We all know working out is great for the Healthy Body, but did you know it’s also great for the mind? Exercise boosts your confidence levels and increases your brain power. By exercising on a regular basis you can improve your cognitive functions and feel great about yourself. The benefits go way beyond immediate results and stretches to later years in life.
If you’re not too keen on working out, here are some reasons why you should.
Reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and release endorphins
Working out, whether it’s taking a walk, running, biking, swimming, going to the gym or lifting weights, can help us manage and reduce stress. Why? Because exercise increases the concentrations of norepinephrine, a chemical that moderates the Healthy Body’s response to stress. Heavier workouts can also alleviate anxiety because that same chemical that moderates stress also calms you down. Furthermore, that buzz you get post-workout is from the endorphins your Healthy Body releases into the bloodstream. Those endorphins make you feel great, fight chronic pain, boost your mood and even help with depression.
Keep your memory sharp
Cognitive decline is something that happens to most of us as we age or deal with stresses of daily life. Around age 45-55 depending on factors such as genetics and environment, our brains begin to age with us. It’s important to keep our memories sharp and stave off cognitive decline. To do so, we should add exercise to other cognitive sharpening and social activities. Working out, especially when we’re younger, helps boost the chemicals in the brain, increases the number of brain cells and connective network of nervous system, all that prevent or slows down degeneration. Cardio is responsible for neurogenesis (the creation of new brain cells) and can improve our brain’s overall function. Working out helps us make better decisions, think clearly and learn faster. So, if you want to remember everything you’ve ever learned when you’re in your 90s, start working out now.
The confidence and creativity creator
Getting a good workout in can boost self-esteem. Exercising creates confidence because no matter how much you weigh, you’re helping your Healthy Body. The better you look, the better you feel, the better you feel the more confident you become. Additionally, working out can step-up your creativity. Exercising keeps you creative and refreshes the brain. If you’re stuck in a creative rut, step away from what you’re trying to do and go for a walk, lift some weights, run, basically do any exercise you can. When you’re done, you’ll notice a surge in creativity for at least two hours afterwards.
Once you start exercising regularly, you’ll notice a change in your overall cognitive functions, decision making and confidence. Now go forth and work up a sweat!
