the 5 key benefits of exercising
This is not new information to any of us; we all know that exercising is good for us and that we need to incorporate it into our busy schedules. Exercising and moving our bodies is an extremely important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, yes, but why exactly is that? What are the benefits of sweating it out for 30 minutes 3-4 times a week?
Believe it or not, there are many different benefits to exercising besides shedding weight (which is probably the reason most of us indulge in the idea of exercise, let’s be honest).
This used to be me, I’ll be honest. I wasn’t aware of the benefits that came with exercise and was so focused on losing weight, which completely took the fun out of moving my body. So, let’s take a look at the 5 key benefits of exercising.
Exercise boosts your energy
This may sound counter-intuitive to most, but, believe it or not, exercise actually boosts your energy levels. So, what’s the science behind this? Well, exercise actually sends more oxygen to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system strengthen and improve.
When your cardiovascular system works more efficiently, you’ll start to find that you have more energy for daily tasks and activities. Your endurance increases and you’ll find that your stamina will improve, too.
2. exercise improves your mood
When you exercise, endorphins are released (which is what I like to call a happy chemical) which immediately improves your mood. So, exercise can be a natural stress reliever - almost like free therapy! You’ll never regret a workout.
3. exercise improves your sleep
Sleep is important for muscle recovery, overall immune health and supports heart health. Exercise improves your sleep and also helps reduce symptoms of insomnia. Because you’ve used so much energy on physical activity, you’ll fall asleep faster and your periods of deep sleep will improve, too. All in all, your sleep patterns will be regulated.
4. Exercise Improves your mental health
I already mentioned that exercise helps with mood improvement because endorphins are released during a workout. But, it’s important to mention that exercise will automatically improve your overall mental health.
Exercise acts as a natural stress reliever and improves brain function, so your concentration levels will be higher and you’ll be able to work through those negative feelings a lot easier. Clarity and freed up headspace are what you can expect after a workout - not too bad, ey?
5. Exercise improves your physical health
And finally, exercise will most certainly improve your physical health. Not only will you start to feel more confident and strong, but you’ll also give yourself a fighting chance against neurodegenerative diseases and things like high blood pressure and heart disease. Not only will you have stronger muscles, but your heart will also be stronger through enhanced blood circulation. So, basically, you’ll feel like Wonder Woman!
If exercise seems daunting to you, start small. You don’t need to dive in head-first and exercise 7 days a week, twice daily. There’s no ways that will ever be sustainable and you’ll start to loathe moving your body, which is the opposite of what we’re trying to do here.
Start by going on walks and try new ways to move your body. If you hate going to the gym, then try do something that will make you excited to exercise. You don’t have to go on a 10km run each day to reap the benefits of exercise.
