Mental Health: 3 - Exercise

Our response this week focused on exercise as a means of staying positive. A healthy body leads to a healthy body is a common phrase and for good reason.

“I find exercise to be a huge help in staying positive. I try to do something everyday whether it be a walk, run, kicking a ball around or picking up a hurl. Being out in the open air and getting my heart rate up makes me feel much better and makes me more productive afterwards.

Not only does it make me feel good about my body but it is proven that even moderate levels of exercise decrease anxiety – something a lot of people are feeling these days. I often feel overwhelmed with college, the COVID situation and other things but when I get back from a run my head is clear and I am more positive.

The benefits of any level of exercise are huge but I recently read that if you exercise to increase fitness, you are literally building new brain cells which can protect against conditions like Alzheimer’s later in life. But anything that increases your heart rate increases your levels of dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline and these mood boosters can improve your memory and focus for hours after you exercise. When I’m struggling to study, I’ve started to go out for a walk or run and when I come back I’m able to focus again.

Exercise can be hard for some people and it can be hard to stay motivated, but literally any level of exercise will benefit your mental health!”

As always, remember that this may not work for you and it is okay to be sad. We all feel down from time to time. Exercise, however, is so important to stay healthy both physically and mentally. It is definitely worth trying if you’re struggling with things. And remember:

Tá laethanta níos gile roimhainn.