How physical activity improves cognitive functioning

From power vacuuming to formal spin classes, you know that regular exercise keeps you strong, nimble, and healthy. Exercise is also great for brain health and mood. Daily exercise is one of the best methods to stay mentally fit in the short and long term.

Regular exercise reduces anxiety and depression, according to research. 30 minutes of daily exercise improves thinking, information processing, brain cell growth and endurance, stress management, memory, and academic achievement.

It's common (and expected) to feel sluggish and unmotivated when anxious, foggy, agitated, or depressed, but being active is more crucial than ever. How does inactivity affect mental health?

A lack of movement can harm our brains, therefore experts recommend taking a brisk walk, sweating, or doing something else every day to improve our emotions and thoughts.

Naturopathic doctor Katy Firsin says exercise releases feel-good chemicals like anandamide and endocannabinoids directly into our brains. She thinks these drugs suppress pain receptors and boost joy.

We feel more worried and unhappy without these substances. “These chemicals also affect pain, and there's a direct link between sedentary pain and mental health,” Firsin says.

This can be avoided without hours of treadmill running. Use a standing desk and walk often.

Lack of action may be to fault if you can't identify a good outcome and constantly jumping to the worst-case situation. Psychologists like Yvonne Thomas say exercise might help you acquire an edge and remove bad feelings.

Think about the last work hurdle you had to overcome. Did you struggle to develop ideas or think imaginatively and look back to earlier circumstances for inspiration? Without exercise, you may struggle more than you achieve.

According to Dr. Nadelman, physical activity enhances attention span, academic achievement, problem-solving, memory, and information processing speed. It aids multitasking and decision-making flexibility.

Physical activity boosts neuroplasticity, neuropeptide, and hormone production, improving cognition.

Even without low-impact training, our brains might feel fatigued and sluggish, making it tougher to motivate and achieve deadlines. Try a 15-minute cardio workout as your day is winding down. In addition to long-term health benefits, the blast will revitalise you.

That feeling of exhilaration after a hard workout? Strong and invincible, you eagerly await your recovery snack or meal. Thomas thinks fitness improves confidence and accomplishment regardless of the activity. In contrast, not exercising reduces self-esteem and self-image.

Thomas explains that inactive people can think and feel poorly about themselves in different ways. They may feel less lively, fun, productive, active, etc.

Once they start, these thoughts stick. Putting ourselves down, not having energy to exercise, and feeling worse repeats.

Every stressful circumstance involves fleeing or fighting. We flee because we fear the problem. We persevere with fighting, sometimes becoming defensive.

This adaptive biological consequence is less useful than in caveman times. Most people can find a balance between these two extremes and manage anxiety.

---