{"id":44745,"date":"2026-07-24T11:40:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T11:40:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hobbylifeafterretirement.com\/?p=44745"},"modified":"2026-07-24T11:40:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T11:40:27","slug":"the-benefits-of-exercise-for-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbylifeafterretirement.com\/?p=44745","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Exercise for Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It\u2019s no secret that exercise is great for your body. But did you know that physical activity can also be a major workout for your brain?<\/p>\n

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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Psychiatrist Lindsay Honaker, DO, explains the positive impact of exercise on mental health.<\/p>\n

How exercise benefits mental health<\/h2>\n

Physical activity can benefit your mental health by:<\/p>\n

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  • Elevating mood<\/li>\n
  • Increasing energy<\/li>\n
  • Improving cognition (like helping with brain fog)<\/li>\n
  • Boosting self-esteem<\/li>\n
  • Reducing stress hormones, like cortisol<\/li>\n
  • Providing social connection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \u201cExercise stimulates your brain,\u201d Dr. Honaker explains. \u201cIt releases proteins and hormones that help you feel better.\u201d This includes brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a protein Dr. Honaker calls \u201cfertilizer for your brain.\u201d BDNF helps your brain grow and stay healthy. It also helps regulate your mood and releases feel-good hormones, like serotonin, dopamine and endorphins.<\/p>\n

    Because of its effect on the brain, Dr. Honaker says exercise can help ease the symptoms of:<\/p>\n

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    • Anxiety<\/li>\n
    • ADHD<\/li>\n
    • Depression<\/li>\n
    • PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)<\/li>\n
    • Schizophrenia<\/li>\n
    • Sleep disorders<\/li>\n
    • Substance use disorders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Best exercises for mental health<\/h3>\n

      As far as which activities are best for your brain, Dr. Honaker says the choice is yours. \u201cThe best exercises are the ones that you enjoy and will stick with,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n

      Some options include:<\/p>\n

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      • Cardiovascular workouts<\/strong>: Get your heart pumping by walking, cycling, running, swimming\u00a0or doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT).<\/li>\n
      • Weight training exercises<\/strong>: Dr. Honaker recommends body weight, light weights or resistance bands to start.<\/li>\n
      • Flexibility and balance practice<\/strong>: Yoga, tai chi and Pilates use slower movements to get your body moving.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        It\u2019s a good idea to combine different types of exercise, too, she adds.<\/p>\n

        And you don\u2019t need to be a pro athlete to get the brain-boosting benefits. \u201cAny kind of physical activity can help improve your mental health,\u201d says Dr. Honaker. Even gardening or doing household chores can get your body moving while you build up to a workout routine.<\/p>\n

        How to get started<\/h3>\n

        \u201cGetting started on an exercise program can be intimidating. But there are simple ways to ease into it,\u201d Dr. Honaker encourages. Some tips include:<\/p>\n

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        • Be safe<\/strong>. Make sure you ask your healthcare provider which physical activities are safe for you before starting.<\/li>\n
        • Start small<\/strong>. You don\u2019t need to run a marathon, says Dr. Honaker. \u201cStart with something doable.\u201d Think walking to the end of the driveway and back. Or winding down after work with a short yoga session.<\/li>\n
        • Break it up<\/strong>. Instead of aiming for a long workout, try fitting in short sessions throughout the day. Dr. Honaker calls these \u201cexercise snacks.\u201d<\/li>\n
        • Join a group<\/strong>. The sense of community that group fitness provides is an added boost.<\/li>\n
        • Use the buddy system<\/strong>. If a group is too much, try inviting a friend to get moving with you. Even if you don\u2019t get together in person to exercise, you can support each other with regular check-ins.<\/li>\n
        • Make time for yourself<\/strong>. Whether you\u2019re solo or with a friend, remember that your exercise routine is a time for self-care. Framing it as time to do something good for yourself can help encourage you to stick with it.<\/li>\n
        • Don\u2019t overdo it<\/strong>. Build your routine slowly, even if you already exercise regularly. \u201cOvertraining can actually make mental health symptoms worse,\u201d cautions Dr. Honaker.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Final cool down<\/h3>\n

          Exercise can be an important part of caring for your mental health. But Dr. Honaker stresses that you should check with your care team about how it fits in with the rest of your treatment plan.<\/p>\n

          \u201cExercise won\u2019t be the only treatment,\u201d she notes. \u201cBut it can complement a plan to care for your mental health as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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