4 ways exercise makes us happier
4 Ways Exercise Makes Us Happy and Healthy by – Jennifer McGregor
Some people say exercise is the “cure” to nearly all of our life’s ailments. Whether you’re having trouble sleeping, are stressed out, or feeling down, it could be that all you need is to get up and moving. The truth is while exercise is famous for making us fit and healthy, it also has the power to help us lead happier lives.
Exercise Fights Insomnia
Research shows us that exercise is a great way to combat insomnia. Those with irregular bouts of insomnia can benefit immediately from a healthy dose of bodily movement while those who suffer from chronic insomnia can expect to see changes over a period of time with regular exercise.
No matter the severity of your sleep-related issues, exercise will help you get those z’s in so you can wake up happy, refreshed, and prepared for the day ahead.
Exercise Reduces Stress
The cocktail of chemicals in your brain gets shaken up in the best way possible during exercise, leaving you with an improved mood and lower levels of stress.
During exercise, our brains release endorphins, a chemical that leaves us feeling relaxed and happy, while simultaneously lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Working out also puts your body’s fight or flight response system to the test, so the more you strengthen this response system, the better equipped you’ll be to handle the stresses of everyday life.
Exercise Boosts Confidence
Exercise boosts your confidence in a number of ways: you’ll feel stronger and more able to take on challenges, you’ll look better, and you’ll strengthen your ability to concentrate on success at work.
The potential for confidence is only multiplied when you’re exercising in a group setting. Getting out to meet new people helps build confidence by itself, so adding exercise to the mix makes one healthy power combo.
Exercise Changes the Scenery
Even if you’re exercising inside, working out provides a much-needed change of scenery for the majority of the population that works at a desk for most of the day. It’s a great chance to get away from the screen and focus on personal well-being for a while, which is crucial for leading a wholesome, well-balanced life.
It’s a good idea to take your workout sessions outside whenever possible since there are countless benefits of immersing yourself in nature. You’ll get a nice tan, a healthy dose of vitamin D, and the peaceful feeling that often comes from quieting your mind in the arms of Mother Nature.
We often only think of exercise as a way to get fit and strong, but let’s not forget the countless mental health benefits of working out as well. Staying mindful of how exercise affects your happiness can help give you the motivation you need to get out and get moving each day.
Jennifer McGregor always dreamed of being a doctor, and as a pre-med student, she’s a few short years away from achieving it. She created PublicHealthLibrary.org with a friend in the hopes of providing access to trustworthy health and medical resources. When Jennifer isn’t working on the site, you can usually find her with her nose buried in a book or spending some downtime with her dog at the local park.
To Your Great Health!
More Thoughts from Mellisa
Question: What are you without an immune system?
Answer: You are dead.
As morbid as it may sound, it’s true. When your immune system is weak you will get sick. When your immune system completely fails you will die.
If I could show you a way to boost your Natural Killer Cells by up to 437%, would you be interested in hearing more? Of course you would.
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