WELLBEING

We all know the benefits of exercise on our physical health, but did you know it can improve your mental health, too? Here’s how…

Whether it’s a 10K every morning or walking to uni instead of catching the bus, evidence suggests that exercising not only improves your overall health, but your wellbeing, too. The term ‘wellbeing’ is defined by the Mental Health Foundation as ‘a positive, physical, social and mental state’. This means:

■ Feeling good about ourselves and having the ability to function well, both individually and in relationships

■ Having the resilience to deal with the ups and downs of life

■ The feeling of connection to our communities and surroundings

■ Having a sense of purpose and feeling valued

Mood Research suggests that a positive effect on mood is achieved following periods of physical exercise, with participants feeling more awake, calmer and happier after periods of activity.

Stress levels

Stress can creep up on us and manifest in different ways, whether it’s loss of appetite, increased anxiety or poor sleep. However, research indicates that those people who regularly engage in physical activity have lower stress levels than those who are less active.

Self-esteem

Self-esteem refers to the way we see ourselves, and those who exercise have been shown to have a higher self-esteem when compared to their more sedentary friends.

Depression and anxiety

Regular exercise has been shown to be a cost- and timeeffective alternative solution to treating depression and anxiety in patients.

In Summary

Engaging in exercise is unlikely to remedy mental health issues entirely, but combined with a well-balanced diet, it’s a great place to start. More practically, physical activity is an ideal way to challenge your body and mind, and will allow you time to take a step back from your day-to-day life to gain perspective and clarity. Remember, you don’t need to run a marathon to see the benefit – walking will have positive effects, too.

Does running around the park cost money? No. Does doing sit-ups, squats, lunges and burpees in your living room cost money? No. Check out page 73 for more ideas and solutions, because no one is buying this “no money” excuse!

Unless you’re a professional sportsperson or a personal trainer, it can be tricky to fit exercise in around your life. We all have competing demands – but think logically about it: if your 9am lecture on a Tuesday is right next to the park, then get up a 7am and go