Welcome to Make Every Day Count, a weekly community blog presented by The Women's Clinic. Each month we will cover a new topic intended to help every woman know how to live a healthier, more positive life. During the 4 weeks that we cover a given topic, we will interview experts in that month's field, helping our patients understand how each tip will ultimately improve their overall sense of well-being. In addition, we will provide links for related websites, information, and videos to further improve our understanding. Together, as we implement each month's topic in our daily lives, we can strengthen ourselves and our community by finding ways to make every day count!
In our first blog, we are focusing on using exercise as an important strategy for improved mental health. The positive effects of exercise have both immediate and long-term effects. In the short term, we can gain strength, endurance, and have an improved mood. Exercise can help us be better equipped to handle the daily stressors of our lives, both physically and mentally. Consistent aerobic exercise can also reduce our risk for certain chronic diseases. As we mature and our bodies change, the need for exercise is constant in order to keep our physical bodies healthy. In every phase of physical development, there are important benefits derived from exercise--a teenage girl, pregnant young adult, and an elderly woman can all benefit in different, but important ways from regular exercise. Research shows that our brains and emotions benefit as much as our physical body when we exercise. Over the last few years, more and more studies have found there to be a positive relationship between exercise and mental wellness.
In an article titled Exercise for Mental Health, the National Institute of Health stated that "Aerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proved to reduce anxiety and depression. Health benefits from regular exercise that should be emphasized and reinforced by every mental health professional to their patients include the following:
- Improved sleep
- Increased interest in sex
- Better endurance
- Stress relief
- Improvement in mood
- Increased energy and stamina
- Reduced tiredness that can increase mental alertness
- Weight reduction
- Reduced cholesterol and improve cardiovascular fitness
No matter your age or fitness level, you can learn to use exercise as a powerful tool to deal with mental health problems, improve your energy and outlook, and get more out of life."
There are so many ways to get regular exercise! It doesn't take long to feel the effects either. According to The Exercise Effect , an article by Kristen Weir in 2011 for the American Psychological Association, "usually within five minutes of starting exercise you get a mood-enhancement effect. But the effects of physical activity extend beyond the short term. Research shows that exercise can also help alleviate long term depression."
As we explore this topic for the next 3 weeks, we will focus on different types exercises and provide information for opportunities to get moving in our community. We will also provide links to exercise videos appropriate for women in all stages of life and fitness levels. Click on the links below for more information on how exercise can improve your mental wellness!
- The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
- Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms
- How to look after your mental health using exercise
Disclaimer: This is a class assignment, not a real blog.
