Why Exercising Improves Your Psychological Well-being

Recently, in public health, a sedentary lifestyle has been proposed as an important factor in the appearance of different chronic diseases, as well as in the increase in psychological discomfort. Consequently, some countries have promoted policies that reinforce lifestyles based on physical activity. That is, Exercising daily is one of the most recommended activities to maintain a healthy life It has great benefits, not only for physical health but also for promoting psychological well-being. Which is it? In this article you will find some.

How physical exercise enhances psychological well-being

These are the different ways in which exercise improves our mental well-being.

1. Experience a feeling of success

Exercising is usually not an easy task. It involves a series of behaviors that we may not be used to. For example, maintaining a routine, waking up earlier or improving your diet. In addition, it causes a series of bodily reactions that make the task even more uncomfortable: our heart rates accelerate, breathing becomes more difficult, sweating increases, muscles contract.

Completing an exercise routine, despite these experiences, is a self-recognition factor that allows us to feel successful and that influences the secretion of dopamine, one of the neurotransmitters related to obtaining rewards. Achieving goals increases tolerance to frustration and improves self-concept: by feeling successful after achieving a goal, the value judgments we make about ourselves also improve.

2. Improve self-image

Self-image is the set of characteristics that we attribute to our person, it is a comprehensive assessment of what we perceive about ourselves. One of the consequences of exercising constantly is to begin to notice physical changes that are generally positive, and that are also recognized by the people around us. Consequently, the mental representation we have of ourselves, in relation to cultural standards of beauty and physical well-being, is positively modified: we look stronger, more muscular or healthier, which usually improves the value we attribute to ourselves. Furthermore, by feeling more satisfied with how we perceive ourselves, we also relate more securely to others.

3. Improve mood and reduce stress levels

Carrying out an exercise routine allows us to experience joy and euphoria, which makes us seek to continue or repeat the activity. This is related to the release of endorphins, which are neurotransmitters with analgesic effects that cause pleasant sensations. This is also linked to reducing stress and anxiety levels

When we exercise, neuromuscular tensions decrease, as well as some stress-related hormones, and the heart rate normalizes, which moderates anxiety. All of this helps us maintain a good mood and release tension, which also has positive consequences on our interpersonal relationships and even on our lives. stabilize our sleep cycles

4. Change habits

Habits are the behaviors that we perform so repeatedly that they become characteristics of our way of life. When we start to exercise constantly, we inevitably take care of other aspects related to a healthy lifestyle, such as nutrition or maintaining a daily structure. That is, exercising and the associated feeling of success, predisposes us to pay more attention to what we eat the hours at which we get up or go to sleep, the frequency with which we exercise, and it can even motivate us to monitor other types of generally harmful habits such as constant consumption of tobacco or alcohol.

5. Optimize cognitive functions

Scientific research in the neuropsychological area has linked exercise with a significant improvement in cognitive processes. Above all, effects on aging have been documented, although not exclusively. One of the reported benefits is the development of executive control skills such as planning, task scheduling, short-term memory and multitasking. Among other factors, this has been related to a significant improvement in neuronal plasticity (the anatomical adaptation of neurons to changes and environmental demands). Likewise, there are improvements in problem solving, motor stimulation and selective attention.

Given the recommendations and scientific evidence, it is important that everyone takes the initiative and dedicates space and time to exercise. Commonly It is recommended to do between 20 and 30 minutes a day, combining aerobic and muscular exercises. If you are not used to it, you can increase 5 minutes a day and do routines two or three times a week.

In addition, you can do activities that do not involve greater financial effort or travel, such as running or doing daily routines in your own home. You can even turn to new technologies and find different online options to exercise without having to leave your home.