Exercise and Mental Health

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Did you know that physical activity is highly beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress across a wide range of adult populations, including people with diagnosed mental health disorders? Yep, that silly looking activity watch you wear religiously may actually be beneficial when it comes to your overall mental health! 

In a recent article published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, physical activity was found to be 1.5 times more effective than counseling or medications in managing depression. Higher-intensity exercise with bursts of short and mid duration are more beneficial than exercise of longer duration (I knew it, whew!). However, all types of physical activity and exercise are beneficial, including aerobic exercise such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga! 

Physical activity should be a part of your day-to-day life. It doesn’t matter if you run a marathon or simply spend 15 minutes pumping iron. It all matters, every time you move your body you are “exercising.” Don’t stress about not having “time” in the day for a structured work out. Just move. Spend more time out on the units with your residents and staff, walk around the outside of your building and pull weeds, assess the area for possible hazards (i.e., sidewalk lifting, etc.) and maybe get a little Vitamin D while you are out there! Stay well and stay informed!