Exercise and mental health: 5 activities to improve your mental health

Exercise plays an important role in looking after your body, but it’s crucial for your mental health too. Here are five activities that can have a positive impact on the mind, courtesy of the Bupa team.

#1 Dancing

Wherever you do it – on the dance floor, in your living room or at a class – dancing can make you feel good! A study on the leading reasons why people are motivated to dance socially found that enhancing mood was a clear winner, followed by building self-confidence. Dancing can also improve fitness, build social connections and be a form of escapism. It’s not just the physical movement – it’s the music too. Think about your favourite song – in the lead-up to that great singalong chorus, your emotions become heightened; this, combined with your anticipation, releases dopamine – a feel-good hormone – into your brain. That’s why music gives you goose bumps!

#2 Yoga

Yoga is a mind and body practice that involves movement, breathing and meditation, resulting in a sense of tranquillity, relaxation and calm. By shifting the balance from your sympathetic nervous system (the one that activates the fight-or-flight response) to your parasympathetic nervous system (the one that restores and relaxes), yoga suppresses the areas of your brain responsible for fear and aggression and instead stimulates parts of your brain that generate feelings of bliss and wellbeing. It slows things down, too, lowering both your heart rate and blood pressure.

#3 Walking in nature

Walking is gentle on the body and a great way to explore your local area and be social too. According to research, a 90-minute walk in nature can help you to stop worrying and “let things go”. The key thing here is the natural surroundings – it should be a field or forest, for example; an urban environment won’t have the same effect. Another study found that just 50 minutes walking in nature can decrease feelings of anxiety. This is because we have a close connection with nature, one that we associate with safety. Walking in nature with a group has been found to have a positive effect too – so, to boost your metal wellbeing, go for a stroll on your own or with others.

Bupa walking

#4 Swimming

Whether it’s dipping your toes in a paddling pool or deep sea diving, there’s something therapeutic about being in water. Not only does your body release happy hormones when you swim, but research suggests that swimming can reduce stress. Heading to your local baths can also be a great way to socialise and reduce loneliness. Prefer the ocean? Go to the beach and you can get the added benefit of being in the great outdoors. What’s more, swimming is suitable for all ages and is a good form of exercise for those with an injury or ailment such as back pain or osteoarthritis.

#5 Resistance exercise

Sometimes called weight training or strength training, resistance exercise means using your muscles to move a force greater than normal for your body. Research has shown that this kind of exercise can help to reduce anxiety and depression, and increase self-esteem. You don’t necessarily need to lift the heaviest weight you can to feel the benefits either; even lifting a low-to-moderate-intensity weight is useful. It’s also suggested that the longer you practise weight training for (rather than just a one-off session), the greater the benefit.

Everyone is individual; you may respond differently to these different activities. But it’s clear that moving in a way that feels good for you can help lift your mood and enhance your physical and mental wellbeing. So, whether it’s sparring in a boxing ring or rock climbing at a local gym, pick something you enjoy and get moving whenever you can.

This article was brought to you by Bupa Global.

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