World Mental Health Day 2022

It’s no secret that exercise is good for your mind – it’s long been considered an incredibly effective way to manage your mental health. To mark World Mental Health Day 2022, we’re discussing some of the key ways in which exercise can positively impact your mental health, as well as hearing from the WithU team on how exercise helps them.

Managing stress

Exercise has been shown to reduce your body’s levels of cortisol and adrenaline, which in turn lowers your stress levels. And, the more you exercise the greater the positive impact on your hormones, promoting longer-term mental calm.

Improved mood

Exercise also boosts your production of feel-good endorphins that work to improve your mood. It’s these endorphins that are responsible for your post-workout “high”, and they’re what keep you coming back for more.

Better sleep

Research shows that people who exercise regularly find it easier to fall asleep, and their quality of sleep is greater than in those who live more sedentary lives. This is due to the fact that exercise is shown to be a great method of managing anxiety, it can regulate your body clock, and it of course tires you out.

Words from WithU employees

We asked some of the WithU team how exercise helps their own mental health, and this is what they had to say.

For Ben, it’s all about focusing on the task in front of him: “Exercise is important to me not only physically, but also mentally. I get such a high when chasing a PB or taking part in team sports, and it gives me something to focus on.”

Olivia loves the way it removes distractions: “The time I spend exercising is my me time, when all external distractions are removed. As well, the feeling of pushing myself past what I thought I was capable of is a great reminder when I’m doubting myself in other areas of life!”

Jesse finds it’s a tool to manage anxiety: “Exercise has played a crucial part in improving my mental health. I struggle with anxiety, and setting aside time to focus on moving my body helps to ease my overthinking, and minimise external stresses.”

And Cai loves the post-workout high: “I’m a big believer that a healthy body equals a healthy mind. The hardest part of a workout is making the decision to do it, but once you’ve made that decision, your mind, mood, and body will thank you for it!”

When your mental health is suffering, sometimes exercise can feel like an immovable task. However, pushing to get yourself up and moving, is a sure-fire way to feel even just a little better. We understand that one size does not fit all, and the beauty of WithU is the variety in our workouts – if a run or HIIT circuit feels like too tall a task, meditation or yoga might just be the ticket instead. 

This World Mental Health Day, take some time out to look after yourself – you deserve it.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, it’s important to talk about things and seek help. Below are some incredible resources. 

• Samaritans
• Mind
• Better Help
• NHS

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