When people think of the gym, or any form of designated exercise activity, their first thought almost always is of how it will impact their physique. Along with that, there is a culture of begrudging gym-goers who will force themselves to go to the gym to the minimal extent possible because they know it is what they must to do to “stay fit,” whether they like it or not. But what about all of the other benefits of exercise? Exercise shouldn’t be this horrible torture we are forced to endure for fear of becoming too squishy. Humans were made to move, not sit, and there are many more benefits (and more important benefits) to being a moving human than just looking lean:
1) Getting Better Sleep
While you feel more energized directly after a workout, regular exercise can actually help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep. So if you’re struggling with sleep, incorporating physical activity throughout the day is a much better way of combating the issue than dozing off to Netflix.
2) Combating Cognitive Decline
It’s something you don’t want to think about when you’re younger, but as we age our brains start to regress. Exercise has been shown to help prevent degeneration of the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays an important role in memory and learning.
3) Boosting Mood
Exercising releases chemicals in your body called endorphins which interact with pain receptors to reduce the feeling of pain. They also activate a positive feeling in your body similar to that produced by morphine (except safe and not eventually life-ruining). Even if you don’t have lot’s of time throughout the week to exercise, something is better than nothing---just 30 minutes a few times a week can still be great way to keep yourself uplifted. Regular exercise has even been shown to help with anxiety and depression.
4) Improving Memory
Not only can exercise help stunt the degeneration of the hippocampus (#2), but it has even been shown to increase production of cells in the hippocampus. So next time you’re studying for exams, throw in some sprints as well.
5) Becoming Smarter
Kind of. This unfortunately cannot be accomplished by going on a jog alone, but exercise does boost neurogenesis in the brain (new neurons being created), which can boost your quest toward Smartness.
This list is not a comprehensive list (at all). To read more about the benefits of exercising and have a more in-depth understanding of the underlying mechanisms, just use the good old internet to find some articles and studies. But, more importantly, get off the computer right now and go move around.
