Yesterday was National Running Day, how many of you participated in celebrating?! Check out these great tips and advice to help you get started, even if you missed the original holiday it’s always a good day for a run!
We all know that running is good for your physical health, but were you aware how beneficial running can be for your mental health as well?! Here at NordicTrackCoupons.com we want to not only help you save money on your NordicTrack treadmills, but to be able to reap all the benefits of running on your treadmill can offer you!
Our guest author Ryan Rivera is going to be sharing why running is good for your mental health to help give you some motivation to jump on those treadmills and go!
Run For Your (Mental) Health!
Running is probably one of the easiest forms of exercise. It can be done by anyone and anywhere, without the need of any special equipment. It has already been proven to be a really good way to stay healthy and fit. But do you know that it also has a lot of significant effects on your mental health and general mood? Here some of the many ways running can help improve your life.
Notice how lack of sleep affects your mood greatly and ruins your whole day? Well, studies show that people who exercise through running sleep better and longer throughout the night, thus effectively improving one’s mood the next day. Sleep is essential in replenishing what the body has used up during the day, so when one is able to have enough sleep, one can actually feel the effects by becoming less irritable and by functioning better throughout the day.
Running, as a form of exercise, causes the brain to produce large amounts of endorphins, the “happy chemical” in the brain. This means that runners often have more endorphins produced in their brains so that studies have revealed that they are a lot happier than those who don’t run. It is even said to relieve mild depression. So running regularly can help you get rid of negative vibes and helps improve your patience and temper.
Aside from helping the brain produce ample amounts of endorphins to give you that generally positive disposition, running is also proven to help inhibit the receptors that produce serotonin in the brain the chemical that is responsible for your mood and is often pointed at as the chemical that causes anxiety symptoms.
Running Is a Great Stress Buster
Stress often affects one’s physical and mental state. Stress can come in different forms, and can be encountered at work, at school, and even at home. Running helps one cope up with stress by becoming more than just and exercise regimen. And because running can be done almost anywhere, one can use it to get away from stress. That’s right! You can “run away from it all.” Do it in the track, the streets, or even cross-country. What makes this a great activity is its flexibility. You can choose to run in your local sports complex, or get yourself some fresh air and some new scenery and run across town towards the beach or up in the highlands. Whatever you choose, it will help ease your mind and cope with stress.
Running can be an activity that you or your friends and family can enjoy together to help you have fun or unwind. You can choose to make running sessions as a way to bond with family and friends, to have your “alone time” or to even vent out and release your bottled-up emotions and energy. Whatever running means to you, it is a very effective form of activity to help one cope with stress more effectively.
Running Boosts Brainpower
Physical activities help stimulate blood circulation. Running does that exactly, allowing more blood to flow through one’s brain. It also increase one’s breathing, allowing your blood to receive more oxygen and nutrients that the blood can more effectively circulate throughout the different parts and organs of the body. This means that when you run regularly, your body is getting all the oxygen and nutrients it needs more efficiently, giving you the ability to think clearly faster, analyze things better, and process ideas and information more effectively. Running, therefore, helps you function better and be more productive at work.
Running is more than just a workout or exercise regimen. Not only does it help you gain loads of physical benefits, but is also a very effective way to improve your mental health.
Remember to do it the right way, though. Always consult your doctor first before taking up running, or any form of exercise for that matter. Always use the proper running attire and shoes, and never forget to do stretching exercises before running to avoid muscle pain.
Author Bio: Ryan Rivera provides free informational materials on anxiety treatment at www.calmclinic.com. These materials are based largely on his first-hand experiences as an anxiety survivor.
