In recent years there has been a strengthened focus on improving mental health, but many people struggle to find a way to better their mental health while maintaining a busy schedule so finding a way to boost mental and physical health all in one is ideal.
Running may be the perfect solution to this problem, with studies showing running can improve memory and the ability to learn and even have significant benefits for treating anxiety and depression.
Many runners experience ‘runner’s high’, a temporary relaxing state of euphoria, after a lengthy run, this feeling also reportedly reduces anxiety and pain felt immediately after a run.
The high felt after running may be connected to the endorphins released while running, these ‘feel-good’ chemicals are naturally released by your body and act on the same part of your brain as opioids such as morphine, which gives them the name of ‘happy’ chemicals.
However, this feeling is not experienced by everyone following a run but even without the euphoric feeling exercise like running is a healthy choice for most people.
It also has obvious benefits to physical health as it helps to strengthen muscles, improve cardiovascular fitness (how well your heart and blood vessels can deliver oxygen to the muscles during exercise), and maintain a healthy weight.
Regular exercise is known to improve mental health, self-confidence, and quality of life, so next time you have an hour to spare maybe you should go for a light run and build up your strength!
- The article was written by Elizabeth Wilson at Peter Symonds College
