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Last Updated on June 28, 2024
It is scientifically proven that working out reduces stress levels and promotes endorphin production. Find out how it works.
What causes stress?
Stress is a normal human reaction that emerges when facing challenges. It is vital to feel stressed in times of danger to protect yourself and fight back. However, nowadays most people live their lives under constant stress, which can be exhausting for the nervous system.
Having overwhelming responsibilities, facing major changes, worrying about the future, and going through times of uncertainty may be the causes of daily or long-term stress.
What happens to your body when you feel stressed?
According to APA (American Psychological Association), stress affects all systems of the body including muscles, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems.
When stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released excessively, they disrupt body systems and may cause illnesses.
How can working out help with stress relief?
Working out has some direct stress-busting benefits. The body and the mind are not entirely separate, so when you feel good physically, your mind feels better as well. It is that simple. Here are some benefits of working out on stress relief.
Working out:
- causes the body to produce endorphins (chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers),
- decreases overall levels of tension,
- improves sleep quality,
- prevents mood swings,
- improves self-esteem as you become fitter and stronger,
- helps your body to protect itself from the negative effects of stress and enhances the cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems.
- creates a meditative mood and clears the mind by focusing on a single task for a certain period of time,
- lowers symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The bottom line
Working out regularly improves the quality of life in the long term. You don’t have to be a professional athlete to see these impacts on your body. Even 5-10 minutes of mild physical activity can stimulate anti-anxiety effects. To feel good, all you need is your motivation to work out and your Kompanion who will guide you to a better physical and mental state.
In the beginning, you may experience only a few of these benefits. Long-term effects may take some time to appear. However, it is worth trying to work out regularly.
