How running can help your mental health as well as your physical health
This week is Mental Health Awareness week – an opportunity to raise awareness that mental health is as important as physical health and that so many are suffering in silence. As someone that has a running business, of course, I am going to advocate running as a great way to look after your mental health, but it’s actually true… running (and movement in general) can help with your mental health.
I get it, often it’s the last thing you want to do when you’re feeling low and many times, I have let the dark clouds descend over me and stayed firmly lied on the sofa when I’m having a down day. However, when I have made myself get up and move, I have found that it can help tremendously.
So, what actually happens to our bodies when we start to run?
Easing mental tension and calming the mind
For one, running will help to control the stress in our body and boost its ability to deal with existing mental tension. I can’t tell you the number of times I have been in a foul mood before a run, only to come home a completely different person! That’s because exercise increases the concentration of the chemical called norepinephrine, which helps to moderate the brain’s ability to respond to stress.
Your whining child winding you up? Not so much after you’ve gone for a run!
Boost your brainpower and get creative!
Did you know that exercise can create new brain cells, activate creative thinking and improve your overall mental performance?
When we run, the growth of new nerve cells and blood vessels are triggered. This is good news considering it is thought that we start to lose brain tissue as we’re about to turn 30!
Research from the University of Aberdeen found that the act of running triggers creative thinking because your brain associates the forward motion with the future. For this to work at its best, stick to well-known routes and make it a relativity easy run.
Working through your emotions
Taking time out to think and work through your thoughts and emotions is a massive benefit when running. Having just your breathing to think about and being away from mobile phones, laptops, TVs, children and partners, will give you that all-important time out. I have gotten through many a hard time with the help of running, most notably when I lost my mum to cancer in 2016. Having that time away, just me and the road helped me navigate that rollercoaster of emotions and work through my grief.
The runner’s high is a real thing!
Anyhow! Back to happier things! Did you know, that there are other chemicals are being released when you run? You can expect your brain to release something called endocannabinoids which promotes the feeling of calm. It’s no coincidence that the word cannabis is in there! Get up to 70-85% of your heart rate and you will start to trigger these golden nuggets!
So, while running might feel like something you really don’t want to do right now, why not consider getting out and walking first. Start that 5K plan you’ve been thinking about. There is so much more to gain than just guilt-free cake… although that’s kind of a bonus too!
So, is it time to dig out those trainers?
Linda Meek is co-founder of Start Running Stay Running. A running community focussing on new and returning runners.
For more tips on how to start running, visit www.startrunningstayrunning.co.uk or find @startrunningstayrunning on social media platforms.
I agree with our sentiments – running is a great way to stay in shape and feel better about so many things. I was also interested to hear on the radio yesterday, about a book called The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club by Josie Lloyd that might be of interest to readers going through cancer treatment.