We often associate running with its physical benefits and overlook the many wonderful mental health benefits that running offers. From helping with sleep to lowering your daily stress, running offers many mental health perks that would help significantly improve your quality of life. We will be exploring 6 mental health perks that will motivate you to hit the pavement and go for a run!

1. Lower your daily stress

Do you ever feel stressed from the daily struggles of life? Luckily, Running combats stress by releasing various hormones such as endorphins, which acts as a natural pain-killer and a stress reliever. Endorphins are created in the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus (both are located in the brain) and attach to the opioid receptors to send signals to the nervous system, allowing to relieve stress. As a result, you would feel a sense of relaxation and calm after you run by melting away all the stress from your day. 

Not only does running help relieve stress, it makes you happier too. This is because running increases dopamine and serotonin levels in your body, which produces feelings of happiness and pleasure after you finish your run, allowing you to let the stress melt away and improve your mental health.

Have you ever heard of the term “runner’s high?” Runner’s high is a feeling of euphoria that you feel after finishing a challenging workout, resulting from endorphins. This state of mind results from the dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins released from running, creating a natural high that leaves you energized and lower the stress you face daily.

2. Running helps you focus on your activities

In addition to lowering stress, going for a run can also help people sharpen focus. Running improves the cognitive process of the brain by releasing a protein known as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). This protein helps you focus by improving your ability to learn topics and to think more clearly. 

Likewise, running can help you in professional or academic settings by making it easier to form thoughts, increase comprehension, and enhance learning. This is why some recommend to run in the early morning because it would allow you to reap the mental benefits of running throughout the entire day. Personally, I find it much easier to think clearly and learn when I run in the early morning and would definitely recommend it.

3. Decrease symptoms of depression and improve self-image

As mentioned earlier, going for a run produces endorphins that help relieve stress. With the help of endorphins, running can also help reduce common symptoms of depression including feelings of sadness, guilt, or lack of energy. Depression is a common mental health issue and can result in negative thoughts. Going for a run can provide a distraction from negative thoughts as it allows you to focus on breathing and your surroundings.

Furthermore, running can improve the way you see yourself as it develops a positive perception about your body and makes you feel more confident in your physical abilities. It fosters acceptance with your body and boosts self-esteem. 

Also, the running community is very supportive of achievements and I encourage sharing your experience with other like-minded runners. It will provide you with a sense of belonging and positively impact the way you see yourself.

4. Running improves your sleep

One of the best mental benefits of going for a run is the improved sleep that comes with it. A difficult run workout (especially in the morning) can leave you very tired, which can allow you to fall asleep almost instantly at night. Specifically, running affects your circadian rhythm, your body’s internal clock, by promoting better sleep and enhancing your sleep-wake cycle. 

Furthermore, studies have shown that running (or exercise in general) can also reduce symptoms of insomnia. By tiring your body, you make it easier to fall asleep and harder to wake up at night. Daily runs promote deeper stages of sleep such rapid eye movement (REM), which is important for recovery. However, make sure to not over train yourself as it could lead to sleep disturbances late at night.

You should still be aware of other factors that could affect your sleep such as avoiding screen time or eating 2 hours before bed and avoiding caffeine to get the best results for your sleep. Make sure to relax your muscles when you sleep and try breathing exercises before sleeping for even better results.

5. Increase your creativity

As mentioned earlier, running helps you get a calmer state of mind. This is amazing for generating creative thoughts or for planning out the rest of your day. In my case, I came up with the idea of starting a running blog while … you guessed it, from running! Not only that, running helps you think more creatively. For example, if you’re facing writer’s block, try running and it would allow you to generate ideas to continue writing.

When you are out on a run, more oxygen is going into your brain, allowing you to come up with amazing ideas. Running puts your mind in an imaginative state, where it is engaged, but not overworked. This state of mind is perfect for thinking and coming up with creative ideas and an amazing mental benefit.

6. Running slows down brain decline

Running can also help slow down cognitive decline by lowering the risk of various mental illnesses. The hippocampus, which is associated with learning and memory, tends to grow in size when running and helps with memory. As a result, your chances of getting dementia as you age are much lower than those that don’t run. 

What’s more? Neurogenesis produces new brain cells in certain locations and is increased with running and other aerobic exercises. This process helps prevent cognitive decline and improves your brain performance. Likewise, you have a much less likely chance of developing Alzhemier’s disease or any other cognitive illnesses. 

You will also slow age-related cognitive decline by running often by increasing your brain volume. Going out for a run is the perfect exercise to keep your mind young and rejuvenated, while improving your brain function.

Conclusion

Running is one of the best exercises in the world and is widely recognized for its physical benefits. However, like we explored in our post, running is the perfect way to improve your mental health. Running is perfect for lowering your stress, improving your creativity, and lowering brain decline and cognitive illnesses. I hope that you are motivated to go for a run and reap all the amazing mental benefits!