It’s very tempting, given the state of the health and fitness industry, to assume that exercise is all about the body, what it can do, what it looks like, and what it feels like. To a large extent, this is true, but there’s more to working out than staying in shape.
So what else is exercise good for? And how can it help you?
1. Exercise is about confidence
For a lot of people, exercise helps to build confidence. For those who feel like they aren’t capable of much, it’s a good way to see real results in short periods of time, and for those who feel hopeless, or in a need of a purpose, it provides something to work towards.
2. Exercise is about discipline
Cultivating a regimen and creating good habits can be hard for a lot of us. Exercise is great in this area because it’s an easy discipline to cultivate (well at least, it’s easy to do the same thing over and over, sometimes finding motivation is hard). Once one good habit is in place, it’s easier to piggyback off of it, and build others too.
3. Exercise is about mental and emotional health
Most people know that exercise is a good way to boost mood, but it has also been known to help with fighting depression. If you’re someone who needs a healthy outlet for their emotions or struggles with a lot of stress at work, exercising can be a way to address those feelings in a controlled environment, without injury to yourself or to others. It can also help to improve cognitive function, through improving sleep and reducing anxiety (Harvard Health).
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