How Regular Exercise Impacts Mental Health and WellBeing Among Teenagers

Introduction

A healthy mind can foster a healthy body. When a person is in sync with their emotions and feels happy internally, they may be able to achieve their goals without facing any irrational emotions. In the past few years, the awareness about the importance of mental health among teenagers has increased. Since adolescence can be a time of intense emotional changes, parents and teachers can act as guiding figures to help kids navigate through this challenging time.

As per the WHO, mental health is also important for a child's academic success and social well-being. Physical exercise can play a very important role in supporting a child's mental health. Not only does it increase a sense of positive self-image, but it may also make a child feel more confident about their body. It may also have some biological benefits in terms of hormone regulation, which may further support a child's emotional health.

How Regular Exercise Impacts Mental Health and Well-Being Among Teens

It is quite common to feel refreshed after a brief workout session. This is because workouts do have a psychological impact on a child's mind, other than obviously having physical benefits. Here are some of the top reasons why regular exercise should be a part of your teenager's everyday routine.

Reduces Stress

As per NIH, workouts can help reduce anxiety and stress in teenagers. This is the time of building new friendships, navigating school, and evolving dynamics with parents; it can be overwhelming for a lot of children. Such a series of changes may bring a lot of unprecedented challenges for a child, which may build up stress. It is therefore very important for parents to urge their children to do physical workouts, such as yoga, swimming, running, and dancing. It may help kids feel more relaxed and lower their cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is the stress hormone that is associated with higher tension and emotional distress. Parents may also give kids the opportunity to choose a workout of their choice to promote better harmony and habit-building.

Combats Depression

According to NIH, if a teenager suffers from depression and low mood, then exercise can be a great way of elevating their mood and act as an antidepressant medication for moderate depression. Physical exercise can stimulate the production of hormones and chemicals that can regulate stress and improve mood. These are naturally produced chemicals and when compared to medication, they may not show any unwanted side effects. Additionally, exercise can also provide kids with a better sense of purpose, which is crucial while treating teen depression. With exercise, kids may set fitness goals and track their progress. The structure, purpose, and achievement of set goals can make a huge difference in the emotional well-being of a child.

Boosts Self-Esteem and Confidence

Many teams can struggle with a lack of self-confidence and esteem because they may constantly compare themselves with others at school. Additionally, social media and other social settings further this pressure and push a child to do better in school or at sports. In such a circumstance, kids may find themselves feeling lost, and their confidence may take a major hit. According to Dovepress, exercise can be a great way to help a child get over body image issues. Exercise may truly help a child become more confident and healthy in a natural way. Every small achievement in their fitness goal may go towards boosting a child's confidence. Moreover, sports and group activities can also play an important role in promoting a sense of belonging and social support among children.

Improves Sleep Patterns

If a teen is constantly tired or struggling to wake up in the morning, then that would be because of poor quality of sleep. Poor quality of sleep may also lead to mood-related disorders and can have negative effects such as poor performance and mental health issues. As per the Columbia University Department of Psychology, regular exercise has been directly linked with better quality of sleep. It can encourage teenagers to avoid screens before bedtime and help them engage in calming exercises that may improve their mental health.

Enhances Focus and Academic Performance

Physical activity can also have a positive impact on the cognitive function of a child. It may make it easier for kids to concentrate in school and increase their blood flow to the brain. As per NIH, proper physical activity may also improve concentration and memory. Regular exercise can be specifically beneficial for teenagers with ADHD as it can help them burn more extra energy. One may also encourage their teenager to engage in movement-based activities and sports to improve their focus. It may also create a more positive learning experience for a child and foster long-lasting learning.

Conclusion

While there is no perfect physical exercise for the child, activities like swimming, running, cycling, and jogging are great examples of aerobic exercises. Moreover, strength, training, and rejuvenating exercises, such as yoga, can also yield positive results.