Mental Health - Why Exercise Is Important?

Are you feeling down, stressed or anxious? These are all normal emotions for people to experience and you're not alone! When these emotions persist for an extended period of time or start to interfere with work, study and social life, they may be considered part of a mental illness.

If you think something isn't right, it's important to get help. Start by communicating with friends and family, your doctor, or by accessing a support organization like Headspace. There are amply ways to assist with getting your mental health back on track!

Although it can be hard to find the energy and motivation to get up and move, it has been proven then exercise helps boost mood, manages stress and improves sleep.

So how can you overcome these barriers and move more to improve our mental health?

Find something you enjoy doing -whether its kicking the footy, walking or going for a swim, doing something you enjoy means you're more likely to make it part of your routine

Start small - Going for a walk at lunch, taking the stairs, or doing small bouts of exercise are all good ways to start moving.

Write it in your diary - Make a note or set a reminder in your phone to get up and move, even if it's only for small portion of your day. Something is always better than nothing!

Ask for help - If you want to start moving, but you're not sure where to start there are plenty of great resources available. Some great places to start include your doctor, an exercise physiologist or support organisation.