The Best Exercises for Your Mental Health – By Clarissa Carlton

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, where not only does the populace look at how severe mental illness impacts the population, but also how they can improve their own mental health.

As one knows, exercise can help improve your mental health. Mental and physical health are connected, with you feeling great after a good workout. There are many exercises you can do to improve your physical health, but there are some exercises that focus on your mental health as well. These come in the form of actual physical exercises, and sometimes they’re more mental ones.

Let’s look at a few of them…

Jogging or Running

If you are physically unfit, it can take a bit for you to build up your ability to go on a nice jog, but the more you do it, the better you become, and eventually, you can run for hours. Running is therapeutic for the mind. You definitely get that runner’s high when all the endorphins release in your mind, and running gives you the ability to immerse yourself in your environment, with the music you listen to, and much more. Some people just like to run and let their mind wander. Of course, this exercise does need special care when it comes to being aware. You don’t want to get too immersed and run into something!

Breathing

There are plenty of good breathing exercises you can try if you want to improve your mental health. Breathing gives us life. It allows us to be filled with energy or to calm down. Heavy, controlled breathing can calm you down and it can be a way you warm up or cool down after a good workout. Breathing can help one unwind after a long day. The list goes on and on. Take a few deep breaths and find the breathing exercise the works the best for you.

Meditation

Meditation is a classic way to improve your mental health. It’s been a practice in many Eastern religions and has seen a more secular approach in the past few years. People love to clear their mind and discard any negative thoughts. You don’t need to meditate in front of a waterfall in some deep forest, either. You can learn how to meditate in your own office. Just sit down, hum or play some white noise, and let your mind free.

Socializing

We get it, not everyone is going to be Mr. or Mrs. Extrovert, but you can be able to improve your socialization and fulfill your social needs.  This is an exercise that anyone can try. Many can try it at a young age to help improve their social standing and they use other tips and technology to socialize such as these here. Adults can improve their socialization, as it’s never too late to do so. Just try your best to chat with at least one person every time you’re out. You may learn  something while you do so.

Lifting Weights

Growing stronger is the goal of many physical fitness buffs, but lifting weights can be mentally relaxing as well. You sometimes can visuzlize the weights as your own problems. No matter how much you resist, you lift them and show them who’s boss. We say that it’s worth trying to lift a few weights and get stronger as you do so. Try them out and see what a difference it makes.

Seek Help!

If you’re suffering from mental problems, you may want to speak to a counselor or a therapist, and they can help you physically and mentally. Online counseling has made it easier than ever to be able to communicate your problems. For more information, click here.

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