I got started in the gym because I was a stressed-out and highly-anxious kid. I was in a bad relationship, had just graduated college with no real plan, and I had an undiagnosed Crohn’s Disease flaring up from time to time. I needed an outlet and it just so happened that I fell into exercising. Over time I started to feel better and could handle my emotions in a better way. I later learned that exercise can help manage stress and provide benefits similar, if not better, than the top antidepressants on the market.
- Releases Endorphins — exercise triggers the release of “feel-good” hormones that are known to boost mood, reduce your anxiety, and feel more relaxed overall.
- Reduces cortisol levels — regular movement helps lower stress hormones, like cortisol, preventing chronic stress from taking a toll on your body.
- Improves sleep — working out helps regulate sleep patterns, which is a crucial, yet overlooked, piece of stress management.
- Provides a mental break — engaging in a workout that is just hard enough where you forget about your daily stressors allows you to reset mentally.
- Builds resilience — pushing though tough workouts trains your mind to be able to push through tough things in life… it’s a great way to build mental toughness.
Exercise does much more than help you gain muscle and lose fat… I would argue a large portion of the benefit happens mentally. If you are someone that struggles with daily or chronic stress and anxiety, getting yourself on some exercise routine will help tremendously. The method of exercise doesn’t matter, as long as you enjoy it and can be consistent with it.
