Benefits of Physical Fitness
Maintaining an exercise schedule has many other benefits including higher self-esteem, better sleep quality, more energy, stronger resilience, and preventing you from relapsing the conditions mentioned above (Robinson et al., 2023).
Depression
Running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression by 26% (Robinson et al., 2023).
Anxiety
Exercise relieves tension and stress, boosts physical and mental energy, and enhances well-being through the release of endorphins (Robinson et al., 2023).
Stress
As well as releasing endorphins in the brain, physical activity helps to relax the muscles and relieve tension in the body (Robinson et al., 2023).
ADHD
Exercising regularly is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the symptoms of ADHD and improve concentration, motivation, memory, and mood by boosting the brain's dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels—all of which affect focus and attention (Robinson et al., 2023).
PTSD and Trauma
Outdoor activities like hiking, sailing, mountain biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and skiing (downhill and cross-country) have also been shown to reduce the symptoms of PTSD (Robinson et al., 2023).