By Dr Nic Gill, All Blacks’ Strength and Conditioning Coach / Associate Professor of Health, Sport and Human Performance at the University of Waikato / Author of Health Your Self.
Most people know of the link between endorphins and exercise. When you exercise, your brain releases feel-good hormones (endorphins) into your bloodstream, giving your mood a temporary boost.
Endorphins are awesome, but they’re just the beginning. There’s so much more to love about staying active. Here are six other equally epic benefits of exercise that I’ve observed during my coaching career and in my own life.
It’s well-established that exercise helps you sleep better. People who exercise regularly tend to fall asleep faster and spend more time in deep, restorative sleep. And, when you sleep well, you tend to make better choices the next day, which reinforces healthy habits – like exercise.
Endorphins provide a temporary boost in mood, but regular exercise can also lead to long-term happiness. As a coach, I’ve witnessed first-hand how keeping active helps my clients feel more positive about themselves and their life.
When people are active, they often make better choices around food, which in turn helps to support their body during exercise. The two tend to go hand-in-hand, creating another positive cycle – just like exercise and sleep (see point one).
One of the biggest things I notice in people who are physically active is they have ‘energy to burn’. It’s a myth that exercise makes you exhausted. When done safely, in a way that you enjoy, exercise is energising, not depleting.
Staying active can be great for your relationships. Whether you want to run around after your grandkids, play a game of footy with your mates, or enjoy a walk around the park with your partner, exercise can bring you closer to the people you care about.
Exercise can provide a huge confidence boost – and I’m not talking about how you look. I’m talking about that sense of accomplishment you get from walking to the top of a hill or running a little further than you did the day before. Feeling good within your body is great for your self-esteem.