It’s no secret that exercise is an important part of a healthy life. But how important is it for a healthy mind?
Studies have shown that regular and consistent exercise can reduce stress, help manage levels of anxiety and depression, and improve your general mood, strengthening other areas of life.
The same study also showed that it can reduce cognitive decline, boost academic performance, and lower the risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease, like Alzheimer’s Disease.
Exercising regularly is also very crucial during the current COVID-19 pandemic, where levels of activity dramatically decreased.
In a study done by McMaster University, they found that Canadians over the age of 18 were experiencing so much pandemic-related stress that it made them less likely to exercise or engage in some type of physical activity.
The same study also reported that the stress related to COVID made some individuals’ mental health suffer as a result of not getting regular exercise. There was also an added hurdle of public spaces to exercise, like gyms, being closed due to multiple lockdowns.
With the current research available, it’s safe to say that keeping mentally fit is an important aspect of not only a healthy life but a healthy mind.
Are you someone who wants to increase their physical activity while also supporting a good cause? Sign up for Run for Women, a run/walk for women’s mental health!
The LOVE YOU by Shoppers Drug Mart™ Run for Women campaign raises money for women’s mental health research and care at The Royal. To date, Run for Women has raised over $2.6 million dollars for women’s mental health programs at The Royal.
To learn more about Run for Women, register your team, or make a donation, visit www.runforwomen.ca.
Article written by Shelby Richardson