The effect of exercise upon mood and sleep

We all know that living right is about achieving the perfect balance between work, rest and play. Our bodies are like finely tuned machines that require just the right blend of activity and peace to ensure that they keep running smoothly and don’t burn out.

In light of this, it’s important to realise the powerful effects that exercise can have in a variety of areas in our lives. So if you feel the urge to resist exercise, here are a few reasons as to why a little bit of physical activity can have some important benefits.

Exercise Basics

We all need exercise. There is an increasing amount of scientific evidence from reliable sources such as the NHS that an active lifestyle will lead to a longer, healthier and happier life.

A small amount of daily exercise dramatically slashes the risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease and can reduce the risk of an early death by up to 30%

Although housework or shopping can make us feel tired, it doesn’t really count as exercise. Exercise is an activity that means that you are not too out of breath to speak, but you’d have difficulty singing the words to a song. Good examples of moderate exercise include walking fast, riding a bicycle or even pushing a lawn mower!

Effects On Sleep

sleep

We’ve all experienced the blissful feeling of getting into bed after a particularly exhausting day. And that’s because we feel like we deserve the sleep we’re about to receive.

There are large amounts of research that illustrate how beneficial moderate exercise can be on sleep. The National Sleep Foundation’s 2013 study found that those who did little or no daily activity routinely suffered negative sleep patterns. Whereas those who exercised more frequently were much less likely to suffer sleepless nights. Here are 30 benefits of good quality sleep .

Another quick point to mention is that as technology gains an increasing hold over our lives, it can affect our sleep too. This article on how smartphones affect our sleep is particularly illuminating as it reveals how our devices’ blue light can interfere with our sleeping patterns.

Effects On Mood

Exercise also has dramatic effects on our mood. The American Psychological Association produced a study in 2011 that clearly showed the link between exercise and mood.

It is thought that exercise stimulates the production of serotonin6 that can allay feelings of depression and anxiety.

The mere act of exercise also raises the body temperature that has calming effects. And meeting exercise goals can boost confidence and distract the mind from dwelling on day-to-day worries too.