The fact that exercise is good for your health is a universal truth; you’ve probably never heard of anyone telling you that exercise will make you feel worse. It’s been observed to help with most health issues, reducing the risk of developing major illnesses like coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and more. It can even decrease your risk of early death by up to 30 per cent.

The best part about exercise is that it’s free, and you’ll almost immediately start to feel better. The more you commit to it, the better the results and your health. Whether you want to start by taking a brisk walk around your neighbourhood or try something high intensity, exercise is a great way to look and feel better. Here are four benefits of exercising regularly:

1. It Improves Your Mental Health

It’s easy to see the immediate physical benefits of exercise. However, it also does wonders for your mental health, whether you go for a run, a walk, or a casual game of football in the park with your mates. It helps you clear your head, allow you to release pent up energy and has been observed to reduce anxiety, depression, and negative mood, according to a study in the Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 

When you exercise, your heart pumps out more blood, increasing blood circulation. According to the same research, naturally, this extends to your brain, which influences your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, stimulating a physiologic reactivity to stress. Several regions of the brain are activated, including the part that governs motivation and mood, which means you’ll usually feel even a little better after a good workout.

2. It Reduces Stress

It’s normal to experience stress to some degree, but many people experience chronic stress to the point that it becomes debilitating. The good news is that exercise and improving your fitness will help you release the tension in your muscles and focus your mind, resulting in lower stress levels. 

If stress is your primary concern, consider biking, jogging, walking, running, rowing, or weightlifting, as these forms of exercise are deemed by experts as the best for reducing stress. Your body releases endorphins, which are chemicals that make you feel good when you exercise. Compounded by the fact that each exercise you do enhances your mind and body bit by bit, working out is a powerful stress reliever that benefits you in just about every way. 

3. It Boosts Your Confidence

Not everyone feels confident when hitting the gym, which is why many shy away from exercise altogether. It can be intimidating lifting weights next to someone more sculpted and toned than you. However, exercising is all about self-improvement, which means you’ll eventually get to where you want to be if you stick to it, giving you the confidence you need to power through.

Still, no one should feel nervous when working out, as everyone should enjoy fitness activities. You can opt to do at-home exercises until you feel confident enough to go to the gym or gradually increase your gym visits until you feel more comfortable. 

4. It Helps You Socialise More

Group exercises have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. Most things are more fun when done with a friend or family member, and you can motivate each other to show up to each class or session faithfully to ensure you stay committed to your exercise regimen. 

The most popular group exercise classes are spin classes and boot camp programs. You’ve also likely seen groups of people gather in parks, all stretched out on their mats or dancing together. Not only will you get to meet people and make new friends, but you’ll also reduce loneliness and improve your fitness.

Conclusion

There are endless benefits of working out, so it makes sense to commit even 30 minutes a day to walking, lifting weights, or any other kind of exercise that strikes your fancy. As long as you find something you enjoy, exercise will never feel like a chore, making it even easier to commit to!

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