Sweat Away The Blues

Here’s how a daily dose of exercise could boost your mental wellbeing this winter

- Sarah Ivory

The power of exercise for improving mental health is a hot topic. Just recently, an 11-year study of nearly 34,000 adults showed that a mere one hour a week of exercise could reduce cases of depression by 12 per cent. Further data reports that activity can decrease the risk of developing a mental-health problem by 30 per cent. And with around one in four people in the UK experiencing a mental-health problem each year, there’s never been a better time to get moving. ‘Being active is so good for the mind that it should be one of the first interventions prescribed by doctors when treating mild-to-moderate depression,’ says Hayley Jarvis, community programme manager for sport at mental health charity Mind. Indeed, exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which boosts mood, plus it improves sleep, which has been shown to bolster mental wellbeing. ‘Keeping fit can also increase self-esteem and confidence,’ adds Jarvis. ‘Setting and achieving goals helps strengthen emotional health.’

DAILY MOVEMENT

Keeping fit needn’t be an impossible task. Jarvis is quick to point out that being physically active includes all forms of exercise – even daily activity. ‘It’s about getting out in the fresh air, whether that’s for a brisk walk, a jog or run, or even to stretch,’ she says. Jarvis also approves of team or club activities. ‘Exercising with a group builds social connections that can up happiness levels,’ she says, and adds that research shows 90 per cent of people who are active outdoors experience an improvement in mood.