Emotional Benefits Of Physical Activity

The emotional benefits of physical activity include improved mood, sleep, stress, and more. It has a profound positive effect on overall health!

Honestly, I don’t love working out. Most days, I have to make myself do it, but I’m always glad I did afterward. Not only does it make me feel better physically, but it also makes me feel better mentally. I can’t tell you how often I’ve been stressed, sad, or frustrated, and a nice long walk improves my mood, especially if it’s sunny outside! The emotional benefits of physical activity go far beyond physical health.

We all know that moving our bodies is good for us. But you may not know it doesn’t take much to have a profound positive impact on our health. Studies have shown that as little as 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity can improve our quality of life and lower our disease risk—that’s only 20 minutes a day.

A fitness routine doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as walking or dancing around the house, or you can choose from one of the thousands of at-home workouts available online. Before you say you don’t have time, look at the screen time on our phones. Full stop.

Emotional Benefits Of Physical Activity

The alternative to getting enough physical activity is being sedentary, which can harm your health. A sedentary lifestyle involves prolonged periods of inactivity, such as sitting at a desk or on the couch for too long. It’s also been proven that a hard workout once a day doesn’t protect you from the harmful effects of sitting. You are still at risk for all the problems of a sedentary lifestyle.

Stress Reduction

Stress reduction might be the most important of all the emotional benefits of physical activity. Stress impacts our sleep, mood, energy, health, and more. Anything we can do to manage stress is a good thing! A walk in the sunshine can help calm you, while an intense workout at the gym can help you release any pent-up energy and emotions. It boosts your feel-good endorphins, a.k.a. feel-good hormones while distracting you from your worries.

Improved Sleep

I struggle with my sleep, and going through menopause certainly hasn’t helped that. I can tell you 110% that the more movement I get in a day, the better I sleep. It’s just common sense. If you sit all day and then go home and sit on your couch all night, you’re not exerting enough energy to be tired. Physical activity is crucial if quality sleep matters to you!

Better Mood

Exercise stimulates the production of serotonin and dopamine, which helps improve your mood and emotional state. Of course, it doesn’t change what was causing you stress or concern, but it puts you in a better headspace to deal with it and/or look at it more positively. Life is life, and no one gets through it unscathed. We are all stressed, and anything we can do to help ourselves deal with it is good!

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Boosts Self-Esteem

Think of it this way. If you don’t exercise, you’ll likely gain weight, your joints may hurt a little more, you’ll feel stiff in the morning, and you won’t feel your best. However, if you get a little exercise daily, you feel better, resulting in more self-confidence. Achieving these small healthy goals will make you proud of yourself and give you a big boost of self-confidence.

Reduces Anxiety And Depression

Expanding on what I said above, my family and I are sadly familiar with trauma, loss, and grief. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my father, sister, and granddaughter, who we lost suddenly and within just a few short years of each other. There are some days that I’m not OK. I’m not going to tell you that a walk fixes everything, but I can’t tell you that on a day I feel overwhelmed with grief, a walk in the sunshine makes me feel better. Many studies have shown that exercise doesn’t just improve your mood. It can be a powerful tool in coping with anxiety and depression.

Socialization

I’ve been walking the same trails for years and see many of the same faces every day. Sometimes, we smile and say Hi, and sometimes, we engage in short conversations. Not only does it make me smile, but I’m still smiling later. There’s something to be said about these little moments of goodness and what they can do for your overall emotional health. If you’re more extroverted than me, join a group class, and you’ll likely be making friends in no time!

The emotional benefits of physical activity have been studied and proven. Exercise is a powerful tool for improving overall health, and it doesn’t have to cost a thing. It can be a 15-minute walk, a hard workout at the gym, or lifting weights—the best activity is the one you’ll actually do, and every minute you move your body is a step in the right direction! Here are a few more things you can do to move your body throughout the day.

My treadmill was the best investment in my health I ever made. I work at home, and my job is sedentary. The treadmill allows me to take a break every hour or so and get some steps. It’s had a significant impact on my mood and weight loss. You can read more about that here.

Set a timer on your phone or computer, and get up. Our bodies are not meant to be stagnant for hours. You don’t have to work out every hour, but you should get up and move your body. You can lift weights, jump rope, or walk up and down the stairs.
If you’re on the phone, stroll around your house or up and down your street. Start intentionally finding moments when you could be moving instead of sitting.
Walking pads are excellent and incredibly affordable. They are small and compact, so you can quickly move them around an apartment or house. You don’t have to walk outside. Get a walking pad, and you’ll never have an excuse not to get in your steps again!
Have a standing rolling desk. I LOVE mine and roll around the house while I work all the time. Even if you’re not moving around, changing your position from sitting to standing is good.

Set realistic goals. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You don’t have to go to the gym every day—I don’t. Any physical activity that’s more than what you’re doing right now is incredible. Physical activity has emotional benefits, including improved mood and self-esteem, reduced stress and anxiety, and better sleep!

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