Exercising regularly can help improve your mental health

I’m always looking for ways to improve my mental health without the need for medicine and one way that I found to be very effective, and my therapist recommended, is exercising regularly.

Exercise, as we all know, is great for improving your physical health. If you want to lose weight or tone your body, a solid exercise routine is important. However, exercise also plays a role in your mental health. 

When you move your body, either through vigorous cardio, relaxing yoga or a long walk, endorphins are released, which, like Elle Woods said in Legally Blonde, make you happy.

Studies have also shown that when you exercise serotonin is released. Serotonin helps regulate mood, appetite, digestion and social behaviour, according to Medical News Today.

Other studies have also stated that exercising releases muscle tension therefore helping you sleep better which in turn puts you in a better mood the following day.

Science aside, when I started including exercise in my daily routine, I did notice that I was less stressed, happier, better able to handle difficult situations and I slept better. I also lost some weight, which wasn’t my end goal but I welcomed it. This  also helped me feel better about myself. 

I won’t lie and say that I work out every day. I don’t. But I make sure to walk instead of taking a matatu or boda boda. The walks, apart from being a workout, also provide me some much needed alone time, when I can think about my life, make plans and get my creative juices flowing. 

There might not be scientific proof that you can replace therapy and medication with exercise when treating mental illnesses  but I have noticed that these daily walks have really helped improve my mental health. ?