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Psychological Effects of Daily Exercise

by Jo Wilkie

The physical effects of daily exercise is something that has been thoroughly discussed, fleeced and analyzed by experts from the world over but the psychological aspect of the story is something that has gotten less attention. Run a quick search on the internet and you will find a tremendously long list of resources on how exercise leads to a healthier body, a higher level of fitness, and a beach-worthy ripped physique but the psychological and mental effects have not garnered as much attention.

Not surprisingly, when people think of exercise, they only think about what it does to their bodies. Still, this does not diminish – in any way – how daily exercise can also significantly boost mental health and wellness. The effects may be less obvious and are not immediately apparent but they are there, and in the context of health it can even be argued that the psychological effects of daily exercise are just as important as the results that you see when you look at yourself in the mirror.

Exercise and Mental Health

At the cellular level, daily exercise yields significant benefits for mental health in ways that carry more weight and scientific logic than coconut oil for face. When you exercise, your body is put through a mildly rigorous phase where it is forced to cope and adjust. This induces stress that the body initially perceives as a form of threat that needs to be neutralized.

Neutralizing this threat requires the body to release happy hormones into the blood stream. The most common types of these happy hormones that are released immediately after exercising are endorphins and dopamine. Collectively, the happy hormones are responsible for giving you a more balanced countenance, a sense of fulfillment and happiness, and a hint of unexplainable satisfaction despite having gone through one of the more rigorous hours of your life. Overall, happy hormones are great mood boosters that uplift your personal and perception of the world at large.

Studies have also shown that endorphins and dopamine lower one’s risk for depression and other related mental illnesses. Exercise empowers you to feel more confident, and is therefore a subtle motivator to go out and socialize, which in turn eliminates the feeling of being alone. The feeling of satisfaction is also an excellent way to keep depressed thoughts at bay so you end up having a happier outlook to life.

The Long-Term Effects of Exercise to Mental Health

But perhaps the most underrated benefits of daily exercise are realized long-term much as one would expect with how the physical benefits help prevent sciatica and other related illnesses. Many perceive exercising to only have short-term benefits and this is not actually true. Studies have shown that exercise plays a crucial role in helping to prevent regenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Exercising improves blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain and lowers the risk for conditions that can be initiated by poor lifestyle choices.

Overall, the effects of daily exercise should be taken as a collectively focusing not only on the obvious physical benefits but also on the not-so-obvious but equally important psychological advantages. The next time you shun the idea of exercising, think about what it can do for your body and your brain; a holistic approach will help you see the comprehensive effects of exercise as it works to benefit your whole persona both in the short-term and in the long-term.

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