Running – Work Wonders for Your Mental Health with this Simple Exercise

Running is a popular exercise for several reasons, you do not need expensive equipment and it can be done almost anywhere. Some people like to run outdoors while others prefer to hit the treadmill at home. A runners high is a real thing and once you start training you will soon experience this sensation. While experiencing a runners high is great, this exercise also has several other mental health benefits.

Control Stress

Stress can cause a lot of other issues with our body and exercise is one of the best ways to deal with it. If you decide to invest in an electric folding treadmill from Johnson, you can use it at home or even bring it to the office if you have enough space. Once you hit the treadmill, your muscles will quickly relax, and your worries will slowly disappear. Running either outdoors or on a treadmill helps to boost your body’s ability to deal with stress.

Daily Dose of Sunshine

If you get the opportunity to exercise outdoors because the weather is fine, you will benefit greatly from your daily dose of vitamin D. When you get the chance to run outside, you expose your body to the sun and this, in turn, produces vitamin D, an important compound that has many functions in the body. Research has shown that vitamin D plays an important role in regulating your mood and getting rid of depression. There are several good reasons to maintain your mental health, one of the easiest and most effective ways to do so is to run regularly.

Slow Cognitive Decline

As we age, we start to notice a difference in our cognitive functioning. Our memory starts to leave us and we sometimes struggle to do mental equations that were once a lot easier. While running does not cure dementia or Alzheimer’s, any form of cardiovascular exercise has a positive effect on cognitive decline. Working out boosts chemicals on our brain and prevents degeneration of important sections which look after memory and other essential functions.

Dream World

Investing in a treadmill or scheduling a daily outdoor run is an excellent way to improve your sleep patterns. The better sleep you get, the more prepared you are to fight stress and other cognitive disorders. For most people, light to moderate exercise can be the equivalent of a sleeping pill.

Motivation

Feeling full or lacking creativity, the answer may be a 20-minute run on the treadmill or a 30-minute jog in the park. Research shows the link between employees who exercise regularly and increased productivity. If you cannot concentrate on work or your college project has stagnated, maybe it is time for a run. A heart-pumping run can boost creativity for up to 2 hours after you run.

As you can see, there are many mental health benefits associated with regular exercise. Hitting the pavement or striding along on the treadmill gets your heart pumping and lungs working. Frequent aerobic exercise helps to alleviate the negative effects of age on the body and the mind.