The Importance of a Regular Exercise Schedule
Fitness and nutrition are common hot button topics nowadays, so it’s no secret that exercise is good for you. Aside from having a positive impact on your health, a regular exercise schedule can also have a positive impact on other areas of your life. At the end of the day, the benefits all point to a picture of better health, but your day to day life will also be enriched in tangible ways.
As for the common health benefits of exercise, it can:
Increase lifespan
Decrease the risk of chronic illness
Keep weight under control/help you lose weight
Decrease cholesterol and blood pressure
Promote strong muscles and bones (and decrease the chances of osteoporosis)
In addition to these health benefits, a regular exercise schedule is a major enhancement to your life for many reasons. The hardest part of exercising when you don’t already is building a new habit. After a few weeks of regular exercise, it will become part of your regular routine.
What you have to look forward to aside from the aforementioned:
Better sleep quality - According to the Sleep Foundation, people that exercise experience less daytime drowsiness, and have an easier time falling asleep at night.
Improved mental health - The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry published a paper citing evidence that this is true. Exercise provides increased blood flow and circulation, especially to the brain, and specifically on the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis). The improvement of cognitive function and self-esteem provided by exercise are a large part of this decrease in anxiety and depression.
Improved brain function - As stated above, improved circulation/blood flow aids in improving brain function, as well as the increased production of molecules important to brain function, and delivery of necessary nutrients to the brain.
Increases strength and endurance - Exercise is fun and challenging because you are constantly able to challenge your personal best. As your strength and endurance increase, you can test the limits with more weight, or more time, which is incredibly empowering.
Improved cardiovascular efficiency - Most people know that your heart benefits from exercise, and while that is definitely a health benefit, it is also a benefit in other noticeable ways. It increases delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues, and as a result, everyday tasks become more manageable and less exhausting.
Increased energy - According to a study put out by Harvard Health, while exercise requires energy, it produces it ten-fold. When the body exercises, on a cellular level it is spurred into action, creating more mitochondria (which turn glucose to energy). The more mitochondria in the cells, the more energy in your supply. The increase of oxygen and rise in hormone levels also provide energy to the body.
The best way to reap the benefits of exercise is to make it a daily priority in your life. The more physically active you are, the better your chances for long-term health and longevity, as well as feeling better on a daily basis.