Exercise – it’s few peoples favourite thing, however exercise sessions can become great mind health workouts with long-lasting positive effects on the overall health of body and mind, such as increasing memory and improving learning.
Previous studies have demonstrated that as well as preventing or delaying the loss of cognitive function through aging, exercise can reduce the risk of developing anxiety, help alleviate the symptoms of mental health issues such as depression or Alzheimer’s disease, reduce stress levels and, of course, help stimulate the release of endorphins (the “happy hormone”, or scientifically speaking, the hormone that helps us to feel calm and reduce stress).
Some studies have even found that regular exercise can even perform better than both cognitive and psychotropic medicines – and finding a way to work 30 minutes of exercise three times a week could make all the difference to your overall well-being.
Walk it off – a brisk walk is all it takes to get your endorphins flowing. If you’re having a bad day at the office taking a walk around town on your lunch break could dramatically improve your mood at the same time as keeping your body active and healthy.
Practice Yoga – for many of us, especially those of us suffering from depression or anxiety, the idea of heading into a gym or taking a run in front of our neighbours is beyond our imagination – making yoga the perfect form of exercise. Free and do-able from the comfort of your own home yoga is a great choice for many people (check out YouTube for a variety of different free classes) – and research has suggested that those who have participated in yoga at least three times were reportedly less anxious, tense, depressed, angry and fatigued, when compared to before practising.
Cool Down – take advantage of the recent heatwave and head out into the water. Unlike many other forms of exercise, swimming is the least strenuous on our joints and muscles making it a form of exercise suitable for being of varying abilities. With a variety of Lidos, outdoor pools, beaches, lakes and rivers available for a little summer swimming – why not take a dip
