Most people know all or some of the physical benefits of exercise, but what about the benefits of exercise that help us in our everyday performance and activities?
Here are a few ways that exercise can benefit and get you moving!
Exercise can enhance your memory!
There are many studies showing that as few as three moderate sessions of exercise a week can make a huge difference in your memory. These sessions only have to be for an hour and they can be fun! Do something that you enjoy. Any type of physical activity will benefit and can benefit all ages. One study showed the increase of actual brain size in elderly adults who did simple yoga activities. Moderate physical activity actually increases neurotrophins, the proteins that support neuroplasticity (ability to change). This makes it even more beneficial for the young because it helps to form the brain at an early age and mold health from early on.
Exercise can improve mental health performance!
People who engage in regular physical activity suffer from fewer symptoms of depression and anxiousness. Exercise can also help you from relapsing into depression. One study found that exercise helped college students deal with stressful situations better than those who didn’t exercise. The release of norepinephrine during exercise helps the brain deal with stress more effectively.
Exercise can help you sleep better!
Exercise can help you sleep! Good sleep can help your performance in many ways because you will not be tired. Exercise does not need to be intense to get these benefits, and it is a great alternative to sleep aids. When you wake up refreshed, your whole day is going to have a much different outlook!
Exercise can increase your ability to perform at work!
Boosts brainpower: If you’re looking to take your brain’s ability to the next level, you can’t do much better than regular exercise. Studies have shown that exercise can actually increase the volume of key areas in your brain.
Enhances thinking ability: Regular workouts will help keep away brain fog so you can think more clearly – keeping your mind and thoughts razor sharp all day long.
Helps you process and remember new information more effectively: If you’re trying to acquire a new skill or task, like learning a new language or tackling a new job responsibility, combining it with regular exercise can help. New research suggests that physical activity can increase the size of the medial temporal and prefrontal cortex of your brain, key areas that regulate and control thinking and memory. You may be able to master that new skill faster than ever before.
Improves ability on cognitive tasks: Do you have an important test for work or school coming up? Or maybe you just want to perform better on puzzles and board games? Whatever your mental goals are, you better believe that exercise will help you succeed on all sorts of cognitive tasks that test your intelligence and brainpower.
Helps you be more flexible and physical: If you have a physical job, exercise can help you to remain flexible and strong to continue doing your job to the best of your ability.
Remember that exercise can be fun! Get your heart rate up for all of these benefits and call us with any questions.
-Emily Peterson