Exercise is so incredibly important to short-term, medium-term, and long-term wellbeing.

However, we also know that a lot of people don’t exercise enough when they probably should. So what are methods to increase your exercise levels and get them closer to the recommended levels?

A lot of people say that they exercise for the purpose of weight loss. And they’re right- exercise has some effect on weight loss. However, recent studies have said that the largest effects on weight loss are actually via eating.

So if exercise has a moderate effect on weight loss- moderate enough to focus the majority of weight loss efforts on diet and nutrition habits- why is getting enough exercise so incredibly important then?

Exercising regularly:

• Helps you fall asleep faster and get higher quality sleep (as long as you don’t exercise too late in the evening)

• Improves your mood, whether this means reducing anxiety or depression or increasing your overall sense of happiness and wellbeing

• Releases endorphins that can help to manage chronic pain- i.e. within the guidelines set by your doctor (and it’s always a good idea to check your exercise plan with your doctor first), exercise can reduce your overall pain levels

• Is helpful for reducing stress by reducing cortisol (as long as you pick the right kind of exercise for this- e.g some kinds of aerobic exercise help and some make you more wound up)

• Improves your attention span and improves working memory

References:

Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews - PubMed (nih.gov)

Exercise: The Top 10 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity (healthline.com)

Mental Health Benefits of Exercise: For Depression and More (healthline.com)