Years ago, a close friend advised me to make exercise part of my daily routine. At the time, I was already going to the gym 2-3 times per week and felt I was doing the necessary in the fitness department, but they encouraged me to exercise daily. They said I should see doing 20 mins of vigorous exercises as a daily necessity. Like cleaning my teeth in the morning, exercise should be a non-negotiable and something I do first thing in the morning, with no excuses acceptable.
I wasn’t unhealthy and didn’t see the need, but I struggled with mental health issues. Sadly, I didn’t take their advice. A few years later, I noticed I had put on some weight, and I began doing a 20 min run every morning to slim down. I soon realised the monumental benefits of daily exercise, which were as much mental as physical.
In today’s fast-paced world, we constantly seek ways to find inner peace and stability amidst the daily hustle. While numerous avenues exist to achieve a sound mind, one often-overlooked method lies in the synergy of mind and body. Let me share what I discovered through prioritising daily exercise and its profound impact on my mental health.
The Liberation of Endorphins
Endorphins, often hailed as nature’s mood elevators, are powerful chemicals our brain produces in response to stress or discomfort. Whether you’re pushing through the last leg of a run, lifting that final weight, or dancing with abandon, these “feel-good” hormones come into play, acting as both pain relievers and happiness promoters. This biological response is nature’s way of rewarding us for activities that, evolutionarily speaking, are essential for survival.
It took me a couple of weeks to feel and embrace the endorphin rush of vigorous exercise. At first, it tended to come towards the end of a run, feeling that sense of achievement, especially knowing I’d done something so positive, especially when done first thing in the morning. Over time, I felt that sense of positivity and contentment during the run. It’s hard to explain fully, but it’s like a natural high, a surge of positive energy. Rather than moaning when I woke up on a cold morning, trying to dig deep for the motivation to head out and run, I soon began to look forward to the physical and mental feelings the run would deliver.
The Meditation of Movement
In our quest for inner peace, we often turn to traditional meditation – seated, still, and introspective. Yet, there’s another form of meditation that often goes unnoticed: the meditation of movement. As I delved deeper into my daily exercise regimen, it became evident that every step, stretch, and stride encouraged a positive change within. Almost like a form of dynamic meditation, going for a run always seems to empty my mind, dispersing much of the noise and chaos in my head, allowing me to focus more clearly on a single subject, or allowing me to just ‘be’.
The synchronicity of breath and motion, the delicate dance between exertion and endurance, turned each run or workout into a moving meditation. Running has become more than a daily endorphin boost, it’s now a tool for peace and clarity. If I struggle for creative inspiration or have a dilemma or difficult decision, I will often run to reach a better place of calm and clarity.
The Empowerment of Achievement
It’s still a constant physical and mental challenge despite understanding the benefits of running or daily exercise. As your exercise routine gets physically and mentally more substantial, you naturally want to push yourself further and harder, running for longer or faster and ensuring the challenge remains.
That challenge isn’t the negative or downside of daily exercise; it’s the whole point. With a challenge comes achievement, and we feel more empowered and in control with each achievement. This creates a broader sense of capability and has helped me face more significant life challenges with greater confidence and aptitude.
The Regulation of Sleep and Stress
Exercise, often celebrated for its physical benefits, silently works wonders on our internal clock. Before daily exercise, I had a love/hate relationship with sleep. I had good days where I’d hit the pillow and quickly fall asleep, but just as many nights where I’d toss and turn for an hour or two before I could get to sleep – especially if I had to wake up early the next day. With daily exercise, my body craves rest and aligns my circadian rhythm, establishing consistency in my sleep schedule. I have much fewer restless nights.
Such regularity in sleep has a cascading positive effect on my stress levels. A well-rested mind is more resilient, better equipped to manage the day’s adversities, and more adept at emotional regulation. The correlation became clear: movement influenced sleep, which modulates stress, showcasing the holistic impact of exercise on overall well-being.
The tools for betterment often lie within our grasp. By incorporating regular movement into our lives, we unlock many benefits beyond the visible. From the elation brought by endorphins, the mindfulness achieved through motion, the empowerment stemming from accomplishments, to the balance between sleep and stress, exercise emerges as a physical endeavour and a comprehensive pathway to mental tranquillity. In this dance between the mind and body, we discover harmony, resilience, and the strength to embrace life’s ebb and flow.
