11 Unexpected Benefits of Exercise

Exercise already has a ton of very obvious benefits, like burning fat, building muscle, and preventing disease. However, there are bunch of other great things that exercise can do for you that you may never have guessed.

Complexion

That’s right, going for a jog can wind up giving you clear skin. Along with a healthy diet and plenty of water, your skin needs fresh air and exercise for that healthy glow that gets noticed.

Self-Confidence

Not only will you feel better about yourself after getting more fit, but the actual process of working out will have you feeling much more confident in your body. People experience a sizable boost in self-worth and an increased perception of his or her own attractiveness while getting in shape.

Brainpower

Working out isn’t just good for your physical life, it is also great for your mental life. Working out regularly, especially between the ages of 25 and 45, boosts chemicals in the hippocampus that prevent the brain’s degeneration. Exercise has also been shown to create new brain cells and improve overall brain performance.

Addiction Control

Exercise is an effective way to help in a recovery process from a dangerous addiction. Not only does exercise distract people and cause them to de-prioritize their addiction, it can also inspire an alternative means of obtaining the reward hormone dopamine, which is released during exercise.

Productivity

If you’re in a rut or stuck on something at work, the worst thing to do is sit still. Going for a quick run or jog does wonders in boosting productivity as well as giving you more energy.

De-Stress

One of the most common and well-known mental benefits of working out is stress relief. Focusing on your body is a great distraction from your stressful situation, and exercise also increases your norepinephrine levels, which is a chemical that helps control stress.

Get Happy

Many fitness nuts will sing the praises of endorphins, which are natural chemicals that create feelings of happiness or euphoria that are released during exercise. In fact, exercise is one of the main treatments for depression and anxiety, and has been shown to be just as effect as antidepressant pills in some cases.

Memory

Regular exercise has been shown to boost memory and the ability to learn new things. Some research has linked a children’s levels of physical fitness with their brain development, and more research has shown that running sprints improved vocabulary retention in adults.

Relaxation

Exercise can be a great way to relax and get your body ready for sleep. A good workout is meant to be tiring, and most people report sleeping much better after exercise than they do otherwise. For this reason, exercise is a main way to combat insomnia.

Creativity

A good workout has been shown to boost creative juices for up to two hours afterwards. Not only do long runs give you some time to think, but working out outdoors can give you the natural world to draw inspiration from.

Migraine Relief

Millions of Americans suffer from migraines each day, but the cure can be just a jog away. Research shows that exercise can treat migraines just as well as prescription medications.