Getting active is fantastic for your physical health and fitness, evidence shows that what you do with your body can have a powerful effect on your mental wellbeing.

With it being stress awareness week it is important to explore how to manage stress and the activities you can do today to help you gain control over your mental wellbeing. Mental wellbeing is feeling good about yourself and the world around you, it's about being able to get on with your life the way you choose to.

Evidence has shown a strong relationship between physical activity and good mental wellbeing - this doesn't mean you need to spend countless hours in the gym if this doesn't appeal to you. Find an activity that you enjoy and that makes you feel good, this is what you are more likely to stick to and will help you feel the most satisfied and invigorated. 

How exercise helps your mental wellbeing 

Scientists think physical activity helps to maintain and imporve wellbeing in a number of ways, it can; 

• help reduce depression and anxiety 
• bring a sense of greater self-esteem
• improve self-control 
• increase motivation

This is because physical activity can cause chemical changes in the brain to help to positively change our mood and leave a lasting feel good effect! 

How you can get more active

To get started think of physical activity in a broader, more managable sense - it is recommended that adults achieve at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity of physical activity a day, this will help you to achieve at least 150 minutes in the week. It can help to split this 30 minutes into bouts of more managable activity for example 3 bouts of 10 minutes or 2 bouts of 15 minutes, whichever way you find works for you is the right method!

So, with this in mind find an activity that you enjoy and can easily be made part of your daily routine, for example; going for a walk at lunch or in the evening, walking the dog or cycling to work, why not get a friend involved! Any activity that speeds up your heart rate and elevates your breathing will contribute to your activity for the day and give you that well deserved wellbeing boost!

Visit the Health Advice section to find out more on Physical Activity and How to get Started.

Why not get started with the Couch to 5K Running Plan and kick out that stress by getting active?