Physical Fitness - The Key To Mental Fitness

What is Mental Fitness?

Mental fitness equates to a healthy, well-functioning, resilient brain.?Mental fitness is a term that describes how well we think, feel, act, and behave. Mental fitness is not just about having good thoughts, feelings, actions, and behaviors; it's about having a positive mindset. A person who is mentally fit thinks positively, feels positively, behaves positively, and acts positively. In short, a person who is mentally fit is happy.

Mental Benefits of Physical Fitness

Increased Happiness

Exercise increases the amount of the chemical endorphin present in our brains.?Endorphins are the “feel-good” chemicals that improve mood and relieve pain and stress. It is scientifically proven that exercise increases happiness.

Higher Amount of Discipline

Regularly incorporating a physical fitness routine into your life takes discipline and motivation.?It can be mentally tough to bring ourselves to complete a workout each day.?However, those who stick to it will likely see this discipline leak into other areas of their lives. Completing exercise feels excellent, and you’ll be more motivated to take on another difficult task. This is because you’ve trained yourself to strive for the accomplishment that hard work provides rather than fall prey to the immediate gratification of laying around all day. Your brain will slowly get used to the hurdle of delayed gratification and can more easily apply this to other areas of your life.

Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Reduction

According to the National Library of Medicine, “exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood by improving self-esteem and cognitive function.”?Physical fitness leads to feelings of accomplishment, and completing our physique goals helps with confidence.?Essentially, all the benefits of physical exercise directly contradict and banish the thought patterns related to poorer mental health.

Better Sleep

According to research from Johns Hopkins Medicine, “moderate aerobic exercise increases the amount of slow wave sleep you get. Slow wave sleep refers to deep sleep, where the brain and body have a chance to rejuvenate.” Your body will naturally be more tired after a day you exercised compared to a non-exercise day.?You’ll get better sleep, thus improving your mental fitness the next day.

Mental Clarity and Focus

Physical fitness is proven to help with memory, mental clarity, and mental sharpness.?It improves alertness. Exercise increases the flow of oxygen to the brain, which means you’re able to think quicker and process more. Completing tasks at work will feel much easier after you’ve worked out.?Exercise is the fuel that will significantly increase your money-earning potential.

Feel Great Both Mentally and Physically

To improve your mental fitness, look to upping your physical fitness first.?Exercise is the required foundation of a healthy mind and body.?Not only will you live longer, but you’ll also go farther within your career, relationships, and personal development. Feel great, look great, and perform great mentally.?Physical fitness is necessary, but many struggle with prioritizing this, especially in a busy life.?Exercise should be a required activity each day. The amount of benefits physical fitness provides makes this a no-brainer. Contact me if you need assistance in reaping all the benefits physical fitness offers.?I’ll help you to prioritize exercise so that you can excel mentally.

Gregg Swanson is a mental strength and peak performance coach. He specializes in individuals in highly competitive, stressful environments, who want to gain back control of their lives, excel at their profession and build renewed confidence so they can crush it at work, home and life! You can grab his guide to Mental Strength 101 HERE.

?