Can Exercise Make You Happy?
Throughout our lives we’re repeatedly reminded by our parents, teachers, employers and gym instructors that exercise is “good” for us. As children, we were ordered outside to play and enjoy the sunshine as a PlayStation controller was wrestled from our hands. We were reminded that a brisk walk in the fresh air is good for the mind, body and soul. We enjoyed/suffered (delete as appropriate) all manner of compulsory sporting activities from swimming lessons to school sports days and family fun-runs.
It’s no wonder that, as adults, so many of us look to exercise as a means to improving our mental health. In order to embrace (and get meaningful results from) your exercise routine, a big challenge is sorting the fact from the fiction.
In pursuit of wellness
Proving or de-bunking lifestyle health fads and their relation to mental health isn’t always so easy. Thehealth and beauty industry has long been criticised for promoting unrealistic, unhealthy and exclusive lifestyles when it comes to dieting and exercise. But in recent years, our desperate pursuit of “wellness” has led to yoga retreats popping up faster than you can say “Namaste”. For every genuinely healthy fad that comes along, there will be a dozen unhealthy fads that leave the medical community shaking their heads in frustration.
The success of diet/exercise/wellness/yoga/Pilates industries is proof enough that we are more than prepared to buy well-being. For some reason, spending money on health feels better than doing it for free. And spending lots of money feels really good. But spending money on deluxe activities might simply be retail therapy, as opposed to actual therapy. We really shouldn’t expect, or trust, that anyone else has done our due diligence before we sign up to the latest fad.
Of course it’s problematic to equate exercise with good mental health if the kinds of exercise prescribed by the luxury consumer brands of today are unattainable to the vast majority of people. Luckily, we’re starting to wake up to that fact. Take Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as proof of this. They were heavily criticisedearlier this year for profiling a luxury yoga retreat on their Instagram accountas part of a Mental Health Awareness campaign.
Can exercise really improve mental health?
If you don’t have the time, money or urge to join the wellness brigade, don’t sweat it. Unsurprisingly, evidence suggests that regular exercise in any form is good for our mental health.
Taking time to step out of the office and focus on a work-out, instead of impending deadlines and difficult colleagues, is the perfect way to switch off and recharge your batteries, which will ultimately improve your sense of wellbeing. Exercise alleviates the stresses and pressures of day-to-day working life, providing an outlet and the luxury of returning to your desk with a clearer head.
Remember that joyous feeling you sometimes get post-workout? This isn’t simply relief that the pain is over or pride at your sense of achievement. When we exercise, our bodies release chemicals called endorphinswhich reduce our perception of pain and make us feel happy and positive, working in much the same way as morphine. Add the effects of endorphins to being outdoors when exercising and the associated benefits of fresh air and sunshine. Breathing in fresh air, i.e. oxygen, increases your serotonin levels (otherwise known as the happy hormone), gives you an energy boost and improves concentration. Exposure to sunlight has also been proven to boost serotonin levels. And if that wasn’t enough, exercise also reduces the risk of dementia.
Making exercise work for you
Scientific evidence is all well and good. But if you’re not an enthusiastic gym-goer, the idea that exercise can boost self-esteem and improve mental health might be nothing short of an oxymoron. Pressure to achieve the perfect beach bodythrough unhealthy workout regimes or cult fitness classes can deter and alienate as easily as they can motivate and inspire. If your relationship with exercise thus far has been complicated, or you’re simply keen to get more active, there are some key things to remember that will help ensure your experience is a positive one.
Have fun
Exercising doesn’t necessarily mean plodding away solo on a treadmill for 45 minutes. There are so many ways to make your weekly work-out(s) fun and social. Try taking up a new sport, joining a team (or setting one up with a group of friends) and getting competitive, sampling a new work-out class, trying a course of dancing lessons or borrowing a dog to go running with. Equally, if the appeal of exercise is some much-needed alone time – take it. Listen to that podcast you’ve been meaning to, find a playlist you love and hit the gym, or the streets, to switch off and do your thing.
Be yourself
Exercise won’t make you happy if you push too hard, expect too much of yourself or spend money you don’t have on facilities and equipment you won’t use. Do what feels comfortable and know that you can always gradually build up your fitness and the intensity of your work-outs. If yoga makes you feel great but you can’t stand cardio, stick to yoga. Whether you’re sprinting, skipping, jogging or walking, it has to work for you. It doesn’t pay to beat yourself up over a missed gym class or to work out when injured. It might be a wonderful feeling to get into an exercise regime that’s consistent and enjoyable, but if you break your rhythm, there’s always another day.
If you simply don’t have the time to commit to long sessions in the gym, taking a fifteen minute stroll during your lunch break or getting off the bus a couple of stops early to walk to work is a great way to naturally introduce exercise into your daily routine.
Know your end goal
Make sure you’re exercising for the right reasons and ignore all the background noise. Don’t trouble yourself worrying what everyone else is doing or how they look when they’re doing it, how fast they’re running, how often they’re lifting or the number on your weighing scales. Campaigns such as This Girl Canin the UK is a great example of how to positively promote exercise – celebrating active women who are doing their thing no matter how they do it, how they look or how sweaty they get.
Encouragingly, the messages from health bloggers, coaches and influencers are increasingly focussed on exercise as a means to feel good, not look good. Check out some of the titles below:
· Jog On - How Running Saved My Life
Remember, exercise has the potential to improve your happiness and well-being, but only if you approach it with the right mindset, be yourself, and exercise at your own pace.
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