Increases resilience
Exercise can help you build a lot of muscle, but it can also help you build resilience. In a 2013 study by the Journal of Neuroscience, The researchers examined how exercise affects the rats’ ability to deal with stress. During this study, the rats were divided into two groups; a group that exercised regularly and a group that did not. Next, they applied an external stressor (cold water). After putting them in the water, the researchers measured the brain activity of the rats after they had been exposed to cold water and found that rats that exercised regularly were better able to regulate their response to stress and anxiety than their sedentary counterparts.
Although more research is still required to determine the effect in humans, this study points to the idea that regular exercise may actually change the way the brain responds to stress, increasing resilience and making it better equipped to deal with stress. any stressors that may come our way.
improve your mood
Exercise is good for your body, but it turns out that it also has positive effects on your mind. Physical activity produces a variety of neurotransmitters and hormones (including dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins) that make you feel good and can improve your mood. Research from Finland has found that people who exercise regularly experience significantly less depression, anger, and stress than people who exercise infrequently or not at all. So the next time you find yourself in a bad mood and want to go somewhere better and happier, breaking a sweat may be just what you need to give your mood that much-needed boost.
Increases self-esteem
An important element of being mentally strong is feeling good about who you are. In a research conducted by the Department of Physical Education, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Iranian Medical Sciences , it was determined that exercise has a positive effect on self-esteem. So, if you have times when you struggle with challenging feelings about yourself, character, or worth, putting your shoes on right and getting a good workout can really help you start pushing your self-esteem in the right direction.