How physical activity can support your mental wellbeing
Today is World Mental Health Day, and it provides an opportunity to talk openly about mental health and the different ways we can look after our wellbeing.
We often talk about physical activity in terms of fitness, strength and physical health, but regular movement can also have a positive impact on how we feel.
Being active won’t solve every mental health difficulty, and it shouldn’t be treated as a replacement for professional support when this is needed. However, finding ways to move regularly can be one useful part of looking after your general health and wellbeing.
Physical activity and mental wellbeing
Regular physical activity can help to improve our mood, reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, support better sleep and improve our self esteem.
You don’t need to follow an intense training programme to experience the benefits either.
Swimming, attending a group exercise class, using the gym or taking part in a lower intensity activity can all provide an opportunity to move, focus on something different and take some time away from the pressures of everyday life.
The most important thing is finding an activity that you enjoy that feels manageable for you.
Routine can make a difference
Having some structure in our weeks can be helpful for our wellbeing.
Booking a regular class, setting aside time for a swim or planning when you’re going to visit the gym can give you something consistent to build into your routine.
It can also make being active feel more achievable. Instead of feeling like every session needs to be a major workout, just making regular movement part of your week can be a positive place to start.
And if your routine changes or you miss a session, that’s okay too. Being active doesn’t need to be all or nothing.
The social benefits of being active
Physical activity can also be a way to connect with other people.
Group exercise classes, swimming sessions and other activities bring people together regularly, and over time you might start to recognise familiar faces, get to know instructors or meet people with similar interests.
You don’t have to be particularly sociable for this to be beneficial. Even small, regular interactions can help us feel more connected to the people and places around us.
For some people, this social element becomes an important reason for continuing to attend.
Taking the pressure off exercise
Fitness is often associated with targets, losing weight, lifting more, running faster or achieving a particular result.
Having a goal can be a great source of motivation, but you don’t always need one.
Being active because you enjoy it, because it helps you manage stress or simply because you feel better afterwards is just as valid.
There will also be days where you have more energy than others. Listening to yourself and adjusting what you do accordingly can help make physical activity something sustainable instead of another source of pressure.
Find what works for you
There isn’t only one type of exercise that’s right for everybody.
Some people enjoy the atmosphere and motivation of a group exercise class, while others prefer exercising independantly in the gym. Swimming can offer something completely different again, and lower intensity activities may be a better fit at different stages of life.
If you’re new to exercise or returning after some time away, you don’t need to do everything at once. Starting with something manageable and gradually finding what you enjoy can make it much easier to build a routine that lasts.
Our aim is to provide welcoming places where people across our communities can be active in a way that works for them.
This World Mental Health Day, we’re encouraging everyone to think about their mental wellbeing as well as their physical health, and to remember that looking after yourself can take many different forms.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, you don’t have to deal with it alone. Support is available through your GP and mental health organisations including Mind and Samaritans.
