The Benefits of Exercise for Mental Health

It’s no secret that exercise is good for your physical health. But did you know that it can also be beneficial for your mental health? 

May 9th – May 15th 2022 is Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK and this year’s theme is loneliness. It’s no surprising fact that the past couple of years have been a challenge for everyone and a lot of people, as a result of the pandemic and multiple lockdowns, have experienced loneliness and mental health struggles. As many as one in four UK adults experience loneliness some or all of the time, this statistic is shockingly high. Even without the pandemic playing its part, mental illness is something many people live with and struggle to find the right support and treatment for. 

At Bronco, mental health awareness and support is something that’s very important to all of us and we are all encouraged to speak about our mental health, how we are feeling and ask for help when and if we need it. We think it’s so important to raise awareness of this crucial week, normalise speaking out about mental health in the workplace, asking for help and knowing where to find it. 

Having a healthy body and a healthy mind is something we take seriously at Bronco. To help facilitate this, all employees have access to works on-site gym to use when they like as well as the option to participate in weekly bootcamp sessions hosted by the excellent Body Logic Fitness. Not only is bootcamp a great workout, it’s also a great team exercise (no pun intended), we’re all able to work individually and as a group to push ourselves to get the workout done and it feels like a great achievement at the end! This really boosts team morale and gets those ‘feel good’ hormones going! Bootcamp has been going strong for 5 years now and is something we intend to carry on for a long time yet. 

The team are currently training for Total Warrior which takes place in June so a lot of them are exercising in their spare time at home. Becky has recently completed the Boston Marathon, her third in total, and this has been amazing for keeping her mental health in check. 

When you work out endorphins are released, which are hormones that make you happy. Exercise also helps to improve your mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost your self-esteem. So if you’re feeling down, hitting the gym or going for a run can do wonders for your mood. 

There are many different types of exercise that can be beneficial for mental health. Some of the best exercises for mental health include aerobic exercise, weightlifting, and yoga. These exercises help to boost your mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve your self-esteem. If you’re looking for an exercise routine that will benefit your mental health, consider trying one of these exercises, or joining a bootcamp which combines a lot of these techniques! Not to mention, joining a group exercise class is a great way to connect with other people, make new friends and find support from others. 

You don’t need to exercise for hours every day to see benefits for your mental health. Just a 30-minute workout, three times a week, can help to improve your mental state. If you’re struggling to find time to exercise, try breaking up your workouts into smaller chunks of time throughout the day. Even 10 minutes of exercise can be beneficial.

When it comes to exercise and mental health, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some people may see benefits from just 10 minutes of exercise per day, while others may need to exercise for hours each day to see results. The amount of exercise you need to see benefits for mental health will vary depending on your individual circumstances.

If you want to join in with supporting Mental Health Awareness Week you can use and follow the hashtags #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and #IveBeenThere on social media. 

And remember, if you’re struggling with mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.