Mental Health Motivation
Moving for your mood and mind can be more a more powerful motivator than moving for your muscles.
How’s your mental health?
Because if we’re being honest, mine has not been so great lately.
We are living through the one of the most chaotic, unpredictable, scary and just over-all fucked-up periods of time where it feels like any headline could be straight from The Onion, any speech could from the satire Veep and the unimaginable is happening on a daily basis.
While the world is unraveling, I’m raising 11-year old twins who have just entered middle school, so that’s a breeze. And I’m monitoring the health and wellness of my aging parents and their medical needs. No worries there.
On top of all that I’m 47, right in that wonderful perimenopausal stew of night sweats, insane hormones, puffy belly weight gain, brain fog and all kinds of other surprises that make me feel crazy, tired, confused and often like I’d like to cry. Or punch something. Or just lie face-down on the laundry pile. Not that I would do that. Okay fine, I did. But to my defense the laundry was still warm and Wrigley did it first.
I often go to bed with more worries that I can manage. I sometimes get stuck in a doom-spiral, one fear leading to the next until I’m tossing and turning all night then wake up exhausted and nervous and full of dread.
There are many mornings that I don’t want to do it. Like a fussy toddler I want to just kick my feet and wail until someone else takes on the day for me.
But Wrigley is there at my bedside with his sweet face asking me to get me up. And I can smell the coffee starting to brew. Best of all, I’ve got my online class to show up for, and I know I will feel 1,000% better in my mind and heart after I move my body.
Because it isn’t just about me, there are lots of beings (children, husband, parents, pets) who are counting on me to show up.
So my feet hit the floor and I start the day by moving for 30 min.
I used to workout for vanity only. I would go to the gym when I wanted to lose weight. Period.
Now my main motivator to move? My mental health.
Yes, the physical benefits are awesome as well. But the biggest thrust for me to make it to the mat? My mind. My mood. My mental wellbeing.
And there is A LOT of science to back this up.
Per Google: ‘Exercising for 30 minutes a day can significantly improve your mental health by releasing mood-boosting endorphins, reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep, and enhancing cognitive functions like memory and focus. This regular physical activity can be as effective as some therapies and medications for mild to moderate depression and anxiety, while also building self-esteem and resilience.’
Several studies including one documented in Medical News Today found that: “Physical activity should be viewed as a first-choice treatment for people living with mental health issues. The analysis distills the conclusions of nearly 100 meta-reviews of randomized controlled trials.
Physical activity is 1.5 times more effective at reducing mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression, psychological stress, and anxiety than medication or cognitive behavior therapy, according to the study’s lead author, Dr. Ben Singh.”
And WebMD gives us a clear menu of the benefits of moving for 30 minutes:
Releases endorphins. During exercise, your body releases hormones called endorphins, which are created in your pituitary gland and hypothalamus in your brain. They help relieve pain, relax you, and lift your mood.
Boosts self-esteem. Low self-esteem is both a risk factor for and a result of depression. Improving your physical fitness through exercise can help you improve your self-esteem by making you feel better about your body and feel stronger and more confident. It also gives you a sense of achievement.
Improves sleep. Getting enough quality sleep is crucial for fighting depression. Lack of sleep can worsen your depression symptoms. Research shows that exercise can help you fall asleep faster and improve the quality of your sleep.
Leads to healthier lifestyle choices. Things such as eating a lot of processed foods, drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking, and drug use can all worsen depression symptoms. When you make a healthy change in your life, such as regular exercise, you may find that you want to improve other habits too, such as quitting smoking. One study found that after 15 weeks of exercise, young adults naturally chose more nutritious foods such as lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.
So next time your mental meanie tells you that the world is a mess and nothing matters and working out for sure doesn’t matter…just open your Instagram and find my workouts. You can show up in your jammies. You can just move for 5 minutes. Maybe tomorrow 10…keep going. We are cheering for you!
It does matter.
It matters for your mood. It matters for your mental health. It matters because YOU matter.
Sending you love, babe. Deep breath. The world is chaotic, scary and pretty f-ed up right now. But you’re not alone. Let’s move together. I got you.
See you on the mat. xo, Viv