3 Ways Movement Can Improve Overall Wellness

Most of you have probably heard the motto “movement is medicine”. When we participate in daily movement it aides in creating change in our physical, emotional, and mental state. Not only does it support our overall wellness, but it allows us to simply take a break from our everyday challenges and responsibilities. Your days may feel monotonous; whether it’s school, work, taking care of your kids or even your pets. Whatever it is that has you caught in a continuous loop; it is essential for you to find a form of movement that allows you to ditch the stressors and indulge in an activity that feels good! 

“Does it need to be a specific exercise? ”
”What if I don’t have time? ”
”Do I need to move every day? ”

You may be surprised to find out that movement doesn’t need to be time-consuming, specific, or intense in order to reap the benefits of it. Any movement is good movement and every movement will look different for everyone. Activities for you may be a yoga class, going for a run or maybe even swimming. Whereas, for someone else it may be folding laundry, gardening, or starting a house project. The only true criteria is that it’s an activity that is fun, helps you feel connected to your body, and is respectful of your body's limits. 

Here are 3 ways movement can improve your overall wellness:

• Releases endorphins - Exercise is well known for its mood-boosting effects and role in decreasing depression and anxiety. We can credit our “happy” hormones, endorphins, which are released during bouts of exercise. The best part about these hormones is that they are released during activities as simple as walking! When released, endorphins promote feelings of pleasure which aid in the reduction of stress, depression, and anxiety. As negative feelings are mitigated your mood and self esteem may improve as well! 

• Improves socialization - This one is for all my people that like to mingle or maybe don’t, but would like to start! What if I told you that you can reap the same mental and physical benefits or more by moving with others? Participating in physical activity alongside others offers you the opportunity for self expression, socialization, and social support.Whether it’s a walk along the beach with a friend or a group activity such as dodgeball, these will all contribute to an improved state of mental being. 

• Better sleep - Hear me out, we could all use more sleep! Life seems to be moving faster every day and as a result we tend to sacrifice a healthy amount of sleep in an effort to keep up. Whether it’s due to your busy lifestyle or stressors that keep you awake at night, there will be negative effects eventually. One way to avoid these effects is, you guessed it, Movement! Studies have shown that regular physical activity can help improve your sleep quality and quantity as it aids in regulating our natural sleep-wake cycle. This cycle helps the body properly repair itself which promotes things like muscle recovery, hormone balance, and immune functions. Yes, these are all vital things for the maintenance of our physical health, but when the body has time to properly reset, our entire nervous system is better regulated! When we have a nervous system that is regulating properly we see an immediate increase in our mood and mental health.

  
  growgood psychology has a team of therapists ready to support you as you navigate your relationship with movement.
  Finding the form of movement that feels right for you can feel overwhelming as it may bring up additional stressors to your already busy life. Our team of therapists are ready to help you figure out activities that best suit you, as well as tips to manage your time around them. Life can be demanding - you don’t have to figure it out alone. Connect with us today to get started!