Lately, exercise has been at the
forefront of every conversation about health this is because of the increasing
concerns over obesity and sedentary lifestyles. And it’s true that exercise can
improve our health by reducing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and the
risk of developing diabetes, but exercise also has amazing positive
psychological effects.
- Lift depressed moods
- Reduce stress
- Enhance self-esteem and body image
- Produce feelings of euphoria
This is not a new idea: studies dating back to 1970 have
shown that exercise can help improve mood. Now research is helping us determine
the intensity level and timing of exercise that’s most beneficial.
According to some research article in the British Journal of Psychiatry, people who
engaged in regular physical activity—even mild activity in which they never
broke into a sweat—were less likely to be depressed than their sedentary
counterparts. The intensity of the physical activity didn’t make a difference
since a brisk walk and a long run had the same effect.
Surprisingly, the researchers found that exercise
only helped relieve depression when it was carried out in people’s spare time.
People who do heavy lifting or extensive walking at work were as likely to be
depressed as those with desk jobs. Therefore; the research concluded that the
most important factor in lifting depression was the social benefits of
exercise—having a walking partner or a group, for example.
Based on this study, to get the most anti-depressive effects
out of exercise:
- Engage in any form of exercise (mild activity is fine if you don’t want to over-exert yourself)
- Exercise in your spare time
- Exercise with someone or in a group
The bottom line is; Find an exercise you enjoy, choose a
pace that feels comfortable, and do it regularly. You will improve your health and
feel better!
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