We love to talk about how fitness can help your weight, body shape and physical health, but it doesn’t stop there. You may or may not know that exercise is actually a great way to improve mental health, and seeing as it’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we figured what better time to talk about the impact that it can make on a type of health that is exceptionally important – yet often ignored.
THE FACTS
As the NHS states, “being active is great for your physical health and fitness, and evidence shows that it can also improve your mental wellbeing.” So what do we know so far?
  • Physical activity can help people with mild depression, and can also help protect people against anxiety.
  • Physical activity is thought to cause chemical changes in the brain, which can positively change your mood.
  • Some scientists say that being active brings greater self-esteem, self-control and the ability to rise to a challenge.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Wondering where to begin? Exercise really is all about trial and error in order to find what type of exercise it is that you like. It could be anything from a casual walk a few times each week, to regular cardio sessions at the gym, to quick and easy home workouts with your favourite functional training equipment – whatever you choose needs to be something you enjoy, and something that you feel helps you both physically and mentally. Already a fan of working out but find you’re not getting the most from your training? It might be time to change things up. Discovering a new type of exercise that you feel passionate about is liberating, and it can do absolute wonders for, again, both your physical and mental health. In addition to exercise, here are five excellent tips from the NHS:
  • Connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
  • Be active – find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life.
  • Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence.
  • Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word.
  • Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.
REMEMBER WHAT’S IMPORTANT
It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of body shape, dieting, weight loss, fat loss and anything else that falls underneath the same ‘umbrella’, so to speak – but all that truly matters is that you feel fit, you feel healthy and you feel happy about the choices you make to benefit you and your body. *Facts sourced from the NHS, please consult your GP with any questions you have surrounding exercise and mental health.