In today’s world, everyone is looking for ways to improve their mental health. Unfortunately, more and more people are suffering from poor mental health. But hope is not lost. There are numerous ways for you to maintain and boost your mental health. There are a variety of physical activities that have proven to be beneficial in improving mental well-being. Swimming, gardening, and yoga are three specific activities that can boost your mental health.
Swimming
There was a survey done that asked a group of swimmers how they felt about their sport. They responded with 74% saying it aids in releasing stress and tension, 68% said being in the water helped them feel better about themselves, and 70% said they felt mentally refreshed after a swim. Beyond the response from this survey, there have been numerous other findings that show that there is a significant improvement in mental health when you go for a swim regularly.
The reason for this is that when you swim, there is a boost in the chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. An example of this is endorphins. There is also a boost in your brain cells. Since swimming is considered an aerobic exercise, it increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, a protein in your brain that encourages neurons’ survival, growth, and maintenance.
Swimming can also improve your sleep quality, which is valid for many other activities, and swimming is no different. It can also bring in more social contact. We, as humans, are social beings, and interacting with friends and family is a critical factor in our mental health. Therefore, swimming can quickly become a social event.
So, if you want a boost in all of these aspects, then looking into a pool loan to put in your own pool, joining a gym and using their gym, or finding the closest body of water and taking a swim will prove to be a great activity to improve your mental health.
Gardening
One activity that improves mental health that is easily forgotten is gardening. This hobby is most popular because it is fun to spruce up the landscaping around your home and grow your own produce. However, not many would realize that you promote a healthy mind as you work on your garden.
Not only do you calm your mind as you garden, but you are exposed to fresh air, vitamin D, and some minor aerobic movements. It is a fantastic way for you to combat any stress in your life and give you a feeling of accomplishment as you watch your plants grow and thrive. Along with lower your stress hormones, it can also help lengthen your attention span. As you spend time surrounded by your plants, you can see symptoms of ADHD lessen significantly.
Yoga
There are millions of people throughout the world who practice yoga. It is incredibly popular, and with the many benefits of practicing yoga regularly, it makes sense why.
There are various types of yoga you could practice, but the most popular is hatha yoga, a combination of physical poses and mindful breathing. It has been proven to not only improve balance, range of motion, strength, and flexibility but also trigger mood-boosting chemicals in your brain, such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
With the release of these mood-boosting chemicals, you will find that your anxiety, stress, and depression are lessened. Regularly practicing yoga also improves your sleep quality and quantity. There is also a higher chance that you will choose other healthy habits, such as choosing more wholesome foods or other physical activities.
If you want to improve your mental health, swimming, gardening, and yoga are great activities to help.
