Unlock Better Mental Health: Start Moving Today
Physical activity has been shown to have many mental health benefits such as reducing anxiety and depression, as well as increasing self-confidence and motivation (Roswag et al., 2023; Crush et al., 2018). This article dives into how physical activity can influence your overall well-being and mental health.
Exercise isn’t just great for your body; it does wonders for your mood too!
HOW CAN EXERCISE IMPROVE YOUR WORKDAY?
Research completed by Roswag et al. (2023) found that there were benefits of exercising before work. Three hundred participants were asked to exercise for at least 30 minutes before their work day for one week, and then the following week, completed no exercise (Roswag et al., 2023). When participants exercised before work, benefits included: less general stress, more self-efficacy, work focus, and more fulfillment of life outside of work. So, just half an hour of exercise a day can improve your satisfaction while at work as well as your overall mood. More specifically, research has shown that physical activity regulates emotions like anger, anxiety, and frustration (Roswag et al., 2023).
Moving to improve your mood
WORKDAY HOW DOES EXERCISE INFLUENCE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION?
Singh et al. (2023) completed an analysis between 97 different studies overlooking a wide array of populations screening how exercise affects depression and anxiety. It can reduce inflammation and increase the ”happy” chemicals such as serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain that can improve your mood. Both of these chemicals are known to increase satisfaction and mood which can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression (Singh et al., 2023).
WHAT TYPE OF INTENSITY OF EXERCISE IS BENEFICIAL?
Singh et al. (2023) concluded that there were positive effects related to all types of exercise, but moderate intensity and high intensity were the most beneficial. What is vital to consider is that people have different types of exercise they prefer so this can also play a role in how effective results are (Roswag et al., 2023). So whether it is hiking, biking, or going to the gym, just half an hour of movement can have a lasting impact on your day!
HOW LONG UNTIL YOU START SEEING SOME BENEFITS?
Research done by Crush et al. (2018) analyzed a group of people by assessing their mood profile while walking at a moderate intensity (no more than 60 percent of max effort) and found positive benefits even after just 10 minutes after exercise. This study demonstrates that even a very small amount of exercise can improve your mood.
CONCLUSION
Physical activity can not only strengthen your body but can also have positive benefits for your mind. All exercise intensities have been shown to have positive effects, however, moderate and high-intensity exercise has been shown to have optimal benefits towards your mood. In addition to this, to enhance your workday you can increase your motivation and mood by starting the day with just 30 minutes of physical activity. Both Physiotherapy and Chiropractic care include exercise in their treatment plans, contact us today to know more.
References
Crush, E. A., Frith, E., & Loprinzi, P. D. (2018). Experimental effects of acute exercise duration and exercise recovery on mood state. Journal of Affective Disorders, 229, 282–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.12.092
Roswag, M., Abdel Hadi, S., Häusser, J. A., & Mojzisch, A. (2023). Running toward my challenges: Day-level effects of physical activity before work on appraisal of the upcoming workday and employee well-being. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 28(5), 310–324. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000360
Singh, B., Olds, T., Curtis, R., Dumuid, D., Virgara, R., Watson, A., Szeto, K., O’Connor, E., Ferguson, T., Eglitis, E., Miatke, A., Simpson, C. E., & Maher, C. (2023). Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(18). https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106195
Wender, C. L. A., Manninen, M., & O’Connor, P. J. (2022). The Effect of Chronic Exercise on Energy and Fatigue States: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.907637