What strategies do you use to ease negative feelings and cope with mental health issues? I’m going to be transparent and say that physical fitness is extremely helpful in coping with emotional problems you may be having. It certainly doesn’t eliminate your problems, but fitness definitely helps and also distracts you from your problems at least for a little while.
The How
So how does fitness and physical activity help you cope with negative feelings and mental health? Firstly, once you start moving endorphins rush in and elevate your energy levels. Serotonin kicks in as well and makes you feel happier. Those are the physical “helpers” to your emotional problems and will alleviate any negative stress you are feeling.
When you are engaged with a physical activity whether it’s lifting weights in the gym, running or playing sports, it requires you to focus. You need to focus on the activity or you may hurt yourself or not do as well. With running, you need to focus on your breathing and running form, with lifting weights you absolutely need to focus on form as well as how many sets, reps and rest you are doing and in sports you need to focus on winning! So you see fitness and physical activity distracts you mentally from your emotional problems and negative feelings in association.
The What
I gave you some examples of what kind of activities you could participate in to distract you from your problems. One could easily say that other forms of activity not just physical can also help and while I agree with that, fitness is superior to other forms of activity simply because of the hormone releases in your brain as well as the level of focus required. Reading a book, working on an art piece or even writing like I am now can help but they don’t distract enough. It still allows your brain to wander and circle back to your problems, whereas physical fitness does not. Plus as much as I love writing, it has never given me an endorphin release!
The Where
Does it matter where you are doing the fitness activity? It can, actually. If you do fitness outside you have the added benefit of fresh air, plant life and perhaps animal life as well. All of these things aid in making you feel better.
Fresh air improves concentration and focus and also improves sleep! It decreases stress and cortisol levels and enhances mood.
Plant life also has added benefits such as lowered blood pressure, anxiety, fatigue and increase in focus and concentration and emotional well being.
Being around animals has numerous benefits as well such as nervous system regulation, reduced feelings of loneliness and reduced stress.
Start Today
If you are not engaging in physical fitness at the moment, start. It’s not only good for your body physically it’s also crucial for your mental health!
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