Mental Health Awareness Week: Fitness

It’s Day 3 of Mental Health Awareness Week and this time we’re focusing on the benefits of regular fitness. We all know that exercise is good for us, but some of our colleagues may not realise just how many advantages it offers, from physical strength to higher levels of mental wellbeing.

A healthier heart
Exercising on a daily basis is great for the heart, which in turn reduces the risk of having problems later in life. Getting your heart pumping for 20-30 minutes each day will keep your heart healthy and strong, and we guarantee that you’ll feel the difference very quickly.

Weight management
Needless to say, exercising will help you to shed excess weight. This brings with it a variety of other health benefits, plus everyone feels a buzz when they check the scales and find they’ve lost a few pounds. (Suddenly fitting into clothes that have been hiding in your wardrobe for years is also a happy bonus.)

Extra strength
All types of exercise support the building of muscle and the strengthening of bones and joints. The NHS recommends that you incorporate 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise into each week, or you can make it a combination of the two. For instance, some days you might want to have a session on an exercise bike or do a fitness workout, whereas other days you may just be in the mood for some yoga or even half an hour of gardening. Whatever the case, it will help to get rid of any aches, pains and stiffness, leading to a happier life.

Faster recovery
Physical fitness is also beneficial when you become ill or have an accident, as the recovery period will be both shorter and easier. This gives peace of mind for when you catch a bug or start feeling under the weather.

Better mental health
And of course, what with this being Mental Health Awareness Week, we definitely need to look at how fitness will benefit your mind and mood. Through regular exercise, you’ll have more energy when you need it and feel more relaxed when it’s time to chill out, plus it should improve your sleep cycle, helping you to wake up each morning refreshed and ready to go.
Exercise also plays a large role in blocking out negative thoughts and distracts you from unnecessary worries. Try doing just 20-30 minutes of it and afterwards you’ll find that you feel better than you did beforehand.
If you’re working from home and live with friends or family, you could make this a shared activity. Studies show that exercising with others makes the process easier and the time will pass more quickly. If you’re already very fit, why not have friendly competitions? Grab the opportunity to join the online sgsco Strava community, where you can compete against colleagues from across the UK and Europe.

A happier life
To sum up, daily exercise of any kind is a sure-fire way to improve your quality of life. Workouts and strength training will protect your body, promote the release of serotonin that lifts your mood, give you a sense of accomplishment, and make you feel great every single day. If you don’t currently keep fit, why not take Mental Health Awareness Week as motivation to get your body and mind working at peak performance?

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Don’t forget that our chosen charity for this year is Mind, which offers help and support to anyone struggling with their mental health. If you’d like to make a donation, please visit out JustGiving page, 

We’d also love to hear how you’re getting involved in Mental Health Awareness Week, so if you’d like to share anything please tag us in your pics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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