We're all aware of the physical benefits of regular exercise. Regular exercise can lead to better heart health, lower blood pressure, stronger, more toned muscles, as well as an array of mental benefits.

You don’t often hear about the social aspects, such as what meeting new people and learning new skills together can do for you. So, what are the social benefits of exercise?

Regular Exercise helps Maintain Motivation

Exercising with other people, helps push and motivate you. Exercise can be lonely and boring, but having someone encourage you, can be all you need to keep motivated.

For those who struggle with exercise, this is incredibly important. Encouragement and support from a friend can give you that extra push to keep you going, so you can continue to motivate yourself.

Being a part of a group can provide you with the physical, mental, and social benefits of exercise, and give a huge boost to your motivation beyond the one that comes with the physical benefits of a workout, which can be handy for those finding motivation difficult.

If you’ve ever taken a class, you’ll know that that positivity is infectious, and spreads creating an upbeat environment for the whole class.

Exercise improves Mood and Mental Health

One of the best social benefits of exercise is improved mood, as well as much better overall mental health. For common issues such as depression and anxiety, exercise can be very beneficial. It has long been proven, that physical exercise, causes feelings of contentedness, more energy, and an overall better mood, compared to not exercising.

Regular exercise can also help chronic depression by increasing serotonin levels, which regulates your mood, sleep, and appetite. Serotonin helps to reduce immune system chemicals that can make depression worse. Moderate intensity exercise can actually be an effective treatment on its own for mild-to-moderate depression, and studies have shown that 16 weeks of regular exercise is just as effective as antidepressant medication, in treating older individuals who did not exercise previously.

Exercise can help Develop Teamwork Skills

Exercise can help develop teamwork skills and encourages development of teamwork skills. Being able to work in a team is a key skill that helps us to communicate effectively. Team sports can build skills in a low-pressure, relaxed environment.

A knock-on effect of developing teamwork skills is all around better communication ability, and that can lead to higher motivation, leading to increased productivity. By working towards a common goal, you’ll experience less resistance, and therefore likely to see a better output.

Conclusion

Mindset is massively important in terms of motivation, particularly when it comes to exercise. It's easy to just give up. It is important to alter mindset to gain more from your everyday actions as well as your fitness mindset.

It's not always easy to be positive, but where you are unwilling or unable to think in a positive way, you may bring about negativity, instead of reaping the physical, mental, and social benefits of exercise. When it comes to exercise always exercise in moderation, to avoid injury.

Source: https://origympersonaltrainercourses.co.uk

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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2 comments on “How to Maintain Exercise Motivation”

  1. I certainly lack exercise motivation. Unfortunately, going to a gym or any exercise class isn't an option for me at the moment, so all the social advantages you mention aren't available.

    A few years ago I trained to do a 120km/day bike ride and the need to finish the ride in one piece was a great motivator! As the weather gets better I think I'll jump in the saddle again.

    1. Thank you. Yes, the weather is a good motivator for anyone undertaking exercise. Exercise is either something you love, or something you endure mostly.

      I am sure you will get back in the saddle. A 120km/day bike ride sounds impressive. I wish I could exercise without a disability, with a disability I manage step and a short walk.

      I love longer walks but they don't like me. I tried to walk today, but found the more I walked the more I got the tired, the more I tripped up.

      I'm now nursing a bad knee. Magnets should see it off in the next few days.

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