Dr. Adel Korkor is a physician and the founder of the AB KorKor Foundation. In his 37 years of being a physician, he has had the honour of touching and changing countless lives. Now, he is finally embarking on his second journey which surrounds the topic of mental health and running.
Physical activity is extremely important when it comes to an individual’s mental health, and it actually has a lot of benefits. Unfortunately, it is common for people who suffer from specific mental illnesses like depression, and anxiety to feeling unmotivated to work out or even go on a quick jog. We break down 3 reasons why physical exercise is amazing for mental health.
Improved sleep
Working out not only is great for the mind, but it also helps you have incredible sleep. We all know that to be mentally stable, sleep plays an important role. When individuals complete rigorous loads of exercise it takes no time to fall asleep in bed and takes away from the time lying awake.
Looks like those trips down memory lane, and cringing at old memories will be a pass from us. After all, it is moments like these that make us want to sink under our covers, and never come out again.
Improvement in mood
According to MayoClinic, physical exercise in almost any form is the purest form of stress relief. It clears your head, releases endorphins that put you in an overall better mood. It is a form of fast meditation in motion that blocks the negative effects of stress and helps your body relax.
With the current state of the world and the stresses that we have to take on an everyday basis, we should be taking notes. Everyone loves a good stress-free sweet life.
Multiple studies concluded the release of endorphins when working out, and the positive effect it had on individuals’ moods, specifically those who struggled with mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, and anger management issues.
This is almost always because endorphins can help relieve pain, reduce emotional stress, and offer a sense of well-being.
Increased energy and stamina
Any exercise or physical activity that gets the heart rate up and the blood flowing and releases endorphins are going to raise your energy level. Good cardiovascular exercises will strengthen your heart and give you more stamina.
Do you ever leave the gym after a good workout and know that you can take on the world? Those are the increased energy levels.
Physical exercise in any form whether it is running, lifting weights, swimming, jumping, and dancing is all good for mental health. It all comes down to the individual and what they prefer, and if they choose to get up that morning and workout, or not to.
A lot of people complain that they have no control over their mental health, but they actually do.
The first step to getting your power back, and owning your own body, and mind is creating small positive changes like including some form of exercise every day.
by Mariam Asif – YLT Staff
@marr_2000
