Today, the mental health taboo stands up. And so much the better, because we’ve all suffered from anxiety, depression or some other mental disorder. It’s important to take care of yourself!
But did you know that it’s possible to combine physical and mental health? Sport has enormous benefits for our psyche. I’m going to explain the various benefits of physical activity on your mental health and give you some tips on how to make sport part of your daily routine.
So are you ready to be as healthy as you can be, both physically and mentally? Let’s go!
Links between mental health and sport
Regular physical activity not only strengthens your muscles and improves your physical condition, it also has a positive impact on your mental health. Get ready to find out how to move your body and see how much it can really do for your mind!
Physical activity to reduce stress and anxiety
Regular physical activity is a real ally in reducing stress and anxiety. Scientific studies have shown that exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, brain chemicals that act as natural analgesics and provide a feeling of well-being. Exercise also helps to reduce levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.
We are the fruit of an explosive cocktail of hormones, and by getting to know them, we can control them and thus be the masters of our own happiness.
Sport to improve mood and self-esteem
Exercising will increase your serotonin. This hormone is involved in a variety of physiological processes, but its influence on mood is particularly remarkable. By increasing the level of serotonin in your brain, physical activity promotes an improvement in your mood.
Doing sport also means having a better self-image! Sport boosts your self-esteem, because it allows you to develop your physical capabilities and therefore reinforce your sense of competence thanks to the successes and progress you’ll make. By also working your physical appearance, you’ll be able to have the body of your dreams, which means you’ll love yourself even more. By getting out of your comfort zone, sport also stimulates your mind. What’s more, it allows you to establish greater harmony between your body and your mind, which contributes to a positive self-image.
Less stressed, in a good mood and with a good self-image, sport still has surprises in store for you…
Exercise also boosts concentration and productivity
Endorphins also increase blood flow and oxygen supply to your brain, improving your concentration and cognitive abilities. What’s more, you now know that sport helps to reduce stress and anxiety, factors that can affect your concentration.
Thanks to sport, you can not only feel a clear improvement in your mental life, but you can also fight against or avoid a serious mental illness that affects more people than you think.
Sport to prevent depression
When it comes to preventing and combating depression, sport can play an important role. Because of everything you’ve just learned about the role of serotonin, dopamine and endorphins, sport regulates your hormones to improve your emotional state.
Sporting activity can also improve quality of sleep, as well as reducing stress and anxiety. Lastly, sport promotes socialization and belonging to a group, which can have a positive impact on self-esteem and general feelings of happiness and satisfaction.
All these factors are extremely helpful in combating or avoiding depression.
Of course, if you think you’re suffering from depression or generalized anxiety, you absolutely must consult a mental health specialist.
Make sport part of your daily routine
Now that you know all the natural benefits of physical activity on your mind, I’m going to give you some tips to welcome sport into your life.
Choose a sport you enjoy
To keep sport from becoming a chore, you have to enjoy it! Think about what motivates you and what you enjoy, and choose your sport accordingly!
Do you prefer a sport that connects you to your inner self? Choose yoga or Pilates!
Do you like teamwork? Maybe basketball or soccer are for you!
Do you feel like a fish in water? Take up swimming!
There’s such a wide range of sports that there’s at least one that’s right for you, so don’t hesitate to try out several before taking the plunge for good.
Rigor and organization
To reap the mental and physical benefits of sport, you need to be rigorous, with regular training sessions.
If you do sport in a club or with a coach, it will take care of itself, but if you exercise alone at home, you’ll need to be rigorous and organized.
To sum up, the benefits of sport for mental health are extremely numerous. Physical activity stimulates and positively regulates our hormones, for an overall feeling of well-being. What’s more, our self-confidence is boosted. To make sport part of your daily routine, you need to be rigorous and organized.
For this, I offer you my personal trainer services ! On the program: personalized training, with targets to reach and motivation to keep you motivated!
Don’t hesitate to call on me, I promise you optimal results and sessions, always in a good mood and with confidence.