Physical Activity In Mental Health

Studies show that physical activity has a positive impact on our mood, and it doesn’t have to be far or fast. ASICS’ global State of Mind study found that 15.09 minutes could be enough to lift your mood.

Another study asked people to rate their mood after a period of exercise (i.e. walking or gardening) and after inactivity (i.e. reading a book). Researchers found that people felt more awake, calmer and more content after physical exercise

Being regularly active is shown to have a beneficial impact on alleviating stress. It can help manage stressful lifestyles and can help us make better decisions when under pressure.

Research on working adults shows that active people tend to have lower stress rates compared to those who are less active.

Physical activity has a big impact on our self-esteem – that’s how we feel about ourselves and our perceived self-worth.

This is a key indicator of mental wellbeing. People with improved self-esteem can cope better with stress and improves relationships with others.

Physical activity and exercise can be used to help prevent and manage mental health problems.

Many GPs and mental health services now prescribe physical activity for depression, either on its own or together with other treatments.

It’s effective at both preventing onset of depression and managing symptoms.

However, it can counter argue with the thought of being an elite athlete, you have standards to aim for, positions to fulfil, these can counteract the positivity that sport can cause for mental health.

Some people find being an elite athlete a great way to manage their mental health, however some struggle with the demands.

Find the balance, join a local club, reach out to friends to have as study shows 15 minutes of exercise

Boost your mental health and together, change the outlook on men’s mental health.