Sport not only strengthens the body, it is also a powerful tool for taking care of the mind. Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine helps reduce stress, improve mood, and promote overall emotional well-being, helping to maintain a healthy mental balance. But how exactly does a physical exercise routine help us? The experts answer.
Regular exercise generates positive changes in the brain and in our behavior. It increases the release of endorphins, improves sleep quality, and boosts self-esteem. In addition, it allows us to better manage our emotions and face each day with a greater sense of energy, mental clarity, and motivation, not to mention the physical benefits. The considerable advantages for mental health are one of the reasons why many experts recommend gentle or moderate daily physical activity, especially for people suffering from stress and anxiety, although these are not the only cases.
Mental health and sports professionals explain the main benefits and how physical activity contributes to emotional well-being, but also what precautions we should take to ensure that sport remains a healthy practice at all times.
Reducing stress and anxiety
Physical exercise is one of the most effective antidotes to stress and anxiety. During exercise, the body releases endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, natural neurotransmitters that generate a feeling of well-being and relaxation. In addition, concentrating on the activity causes a mental disconnection from everyday worries, which helps restore calm and face challenges with greater serenity. Activities such as running, swimming, or yoga are especially useful for those seeking to reduce everyday mental or physical tension.
Improved mood and prevention of depression
Regular exercise is associated with improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression. Physical activity stimulates areas of the brain related to motivation and pleasure, and promotes a more positive attitude. In addition, the sense of accomplishment after each workout boosts self-esteem and self-confidence. Even small routines, such as walking for 30 minutes a day, can make a significant difference in psychological well-being.
Boosting self-esteem and body image
Sport helps strengthen your relationship with yourself. Improving your physical condition also improves your body image and self-perception. This effect is especially important for people who have gone through periods of insecurity or demotivation. Feeling capable of achieving sporting goals increases your sense of self-worth and helps you maintain a more positive view of your own body.
Better sleep quality and mental rest
Sleeping well is essential for mental health, and exercise contributes directly to this. By releasing accumulated energy and reducing stress, the body enters a state of relaxation that promotes deep sleep. In addition, maintaining regular physical activity schedules helps stabilize circadian rhythms, which improves concentration and daily performance.
Greater ability to concentrate and manage emotions
Practicing sports requires discipline, consistency, and attention, qualities that are also reflected in other areas of life. Regular physical activity enhances concentration and memory by increasing blood flow to the brain and oxygenating neurons. It also promotes emotional regulation, helping you respond with greater control and balance to stressful or frustrating situations.
Strengthening social relationships
Sport, especially when practiced in a group, fosters connection with other people and a sense of belonging. Training as a team, attending classes, or sharing sporting goals strengthens social bonds and provides emotional support. These interactions reduce loneliness and improve motivation, key factors for psychological well-being.
Is sport an enemy or an ally in cases of eating disorders?
Although exercise is an essential pillar of physical and mental health, in some cases it can become an unhealthy habit, experts say. In eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, sport can be used compulsively to compensate for calories consumed, rather than being a source of enjoyment or well-being. This relationship with exercise is no longer balanced and can aggravate emotional distress.
This is something that the Proyecto ART team has mastered perfectly. The english speaking therapist Barcelona specialize in treating eating disorders (EDs) and body image issues. Their goal is to help people regain a balanced relationship with their bodies and physical exercise. When sport ceases to be a source of well-being and becomes a form of compensation or control, it can be a sign of a deeper emotional conflict, they explain. In these cases, the professionals at Proyecto ART offer close therapeutic support tailored to each individual, promoting improved self-esteem and emotional well-being.
The support of a mental health professional is key to ensuring that exercise remains a therapeutic tool and does not become an obsession, and seeking professional help is the first step to enjoying your body and movement in a healthy way again. As professionals in the sector agree, practicing sport should be a way of caring for the body and mind, not a means of punishment or control.
