권장합니다. 그녀는 “참여하는 운동은 [이상적으로] [최소] 30분 동안 심박수를 크게 높여야 합니다.”라고 말합니다. “이렇게 일주일에 3~4회 하면 가벼운 항우울 효과가 있습니다.”

연구들은 운동이 우울증에 도움이 된다는 것을 뒷받침합니다. 2019년 1월호 우울증과 불안(Depression and Anxiety)에 발표된 연구들을 검토한 결과, 유산소 운동은 주요 우울증으로 임상적으로 진단받은 성인 환자(18세~65세)에게 효과적인 항우울제 중재로 밝혀졌습니다.

하지만 요가와 같은 저강도 운동 또한 기분 개선에 도움이 될 수 있는 것으로 나타났습니다. 연구에 따르면 요가는 우울증과 불안을 줄이는 데 도움이 될 수 있습니다. 2019년 10월 요가, 물리치료 및 재활(Journal of Yoga, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation)에 발표된 연구들을 검토한 결과, 요가는 약물 치료 및 심리 치료를 보완하는 강력한 접근법이 될 수 있음이 확인되었습니다.

Frontiers in Psychology에 발표된 연구에 따르면, 격렬하지 않더라도 일상적인 신체 활동은 우울증 수치 감소와 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났습니다.

2018년 9월 Lancet Psychiatry 저널에 발표된 한 연구에서는 2011년, 2013년, 2015년에 18세 이상 성인 120만 명을 대상으로 수집한 데이터를 분석했습니다. 이 연구에서는 운동을 한다고 보고한 사람들이 설문 조사 직전 한 달 동안 정신 건강이 좋지 않은 날도 적었다고 보고했으며, 모든 유형의 운동(달리기, 자전거 타기, 걷기, 헬스장 운동, 동계 스포츠 등)이 전반적인 정신 건강 부담 감소와 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났습니다.

결론: 결국 자신에게 달려 있으며 무엇을 하고 싶은지에 달려 있습니다. “정신 건강을 위해 운동을 일상에 추가하려면 자신이 즐기는 활동부터 시작하는 것이 가장 좋습니다.”라고 Saltz는 말합니다. 그녀는 그것이 가장 지속하기 쉬운 활동이라고 말합니다.

재미있고 하고 싶은 것을 선택하세요. 농구, 축구, 테니스 경기를 해보세요. 친구와 함께 조깅이나 산책을 하거나 자전거를 타세요. 헬스장에서 일립티컬이나 계단 오르기 기구를 이용해 몇 마일을 달리는 동안 음악을 들으며 신나게 즐기거나 좋아하는 TV 프로그램을 시청하는 것도 좋습니다. 하이킹을 하거나 아이들과 함께 공원에 나가 함께 뛰어놀아 보세요.

킥복싱이나 다른 무술 수업, 스피닝 수업, 또는 지역 헬스장에서 제공하는 유산소 운동 수업 등 유산소 운동 수업도 시도해 볼 수 있습니다.

중요한 것은 자신이 좋아하는 것을 찾고 꾸준히 실천하며 규칙적인 운동 루틴의 지속적인 효과를 얻는 것입니다. 만약 운동 습관을 들이는 데 어려움을 느끼거나 무엇을 해야 할지 모르겠다면, 그룹 수업을 알아보거나, 트레이너와 함께 운동하거나, 지역 레크리에이션 프로그램을 확인해 보세요.

Why Exercise Boosts Mood and Energy

Feeling sluggish, tired, and sleepy? Need more energy to tackle your to-do list? Skip snoozing your alarm or those few extra cups of java and head to the gym to break a sweat.

According to Neil Paulvin, DO, a regenerative medicine doctor with a private practice in New York City, the benefits of exercise for your energy level are twofold. Exercise boosts your body’s fitness and also your mood, both of which contribute to your overall health and well-being.

The Physical Benefits of Exercise That Boost Energy

Exercise changes the body physically in ways that help you feel energetic, including:

Increases endorphin levels Endorphins are neurochemicals, or hormones, in the brain that are produced and stored in the brain’s hypothalamus and pituitary gland, Dr. Paulvin explains. Your body releases them when you exercise, particularly when you challenge yourself with moderate-intensity activity such as aerobic exercise, moderate-intensity exercise, and weight training. Research has shown that endorphins rise an hour after exercise. And this post-exercise endorphin release helps relieve pain, reduce stress, and boost your overall sense of well-being, Paulvin says. It’s the “runner’s high.”

Boosts heart health Exercise boosts cardiovascular health, which allows you to have greater endurance throughout the day. For overall cardiovascular health, the American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as brisk walking, water aerobics, and tennis) a week.

Improves sleep Yes, regular exercise can help you sleep better and therefore feel more refreshed and energized throughout the day. A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research looked at people with insomnia who engaged in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity spread over the course of a week. Researchers found that this amount of physical activity was associated not only with a significant reduction in the severity of insomnia symptoms, but elevated mood, too.

Sharpens focus Mentally, we feel more energized and ready to tackle the world after a good workout because endorphins have boosted our physical energy level. According to a study of healthy people aged 65 years old and older published in the September 2021 Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health, three sessions per week of moderate physical activity over 12 weeks improved cognitive performance, including an improvement in memory. Another study of older adults published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity showed that 24 weeks of moderate aerobic exercise improved cognitive function, including concentration. While some researchers have speculated that higher intensity workouts might not have the same positive effect, a study in Perceptual and Motor Skills found that a session of high-intensity training improved cognitive function with respect to attention and short-term memory tasks.

Britany Williams X Everyday Health: 5-Minute Express Full Body Barre Class

The Psychological and Mental Health Benefits of Exercise That Boost Mood

When you’re more energized, that’s a mood lifter. But there are a few other mechanisms whereby moving your body with exercise can lead to psychological and mental health benefits, too.

“Exercise often improves alertness and cognitive function over the long term, which can improve one’s mood,” says Gail Saltz, MD, a psychiatrist and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine. 

She says breaking a sweat also helps decrease feelings of stress and anxiety, which shifts mood in a more positive direction. Exercise causes the release of dopamine and serotonin, both neurotransmitters that play a role in maintaining mood, Dr. Saltz says. It also slows the release of cortisol, the hormone that flows when we’re under chronic stress. These hormonal changes are good for our brain cells, promoting improved cognitive function and boosted mood.

A large body of research has consistently shown that regular exercise is associated with lower incidence of depression. According to a review published in the journal Neuropsychobiology, exercise is associated with the release of neurotransmitters and proteins called neurotrophic factors, which cause nerves to make new connections, possibly improving brain function and possibly playing a role in the reduction of depressive symptoms.

And heading to the park, the gym or taking a group workout class gets you out of the house and interacting with others, which can ease isolation. Loneliness is nothing to underestimate; feelings of social isolation can have many negative effects on our health and well-being.

A review of studies published in February 2020 in National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine noted that social isolation has been associated with an increased risk of early mortality, dementia, incident coronary heart disease, and stroke.

Which Workouts Boost Energy the Most?

Any exercise or physical activity that gets the heart rate up and the blood flowing and releases endorphins is going to raise your energy level. Good cardiovascular exercises will strengthen your heart and give you more stamina.

Saltz recommends any type of aerobic activity to boost your mood and energy. “The exercise you are participating in [ideally would] raise your heart rate significantly for a period of [at least] 30 minutes,” she says. “Doing this three to four times a week has a mild antidepressant effect.”

Studies back up exercise’s benefits for depression. Aerobic exercise, according to a review of studies published in the January 2019 issue of Depression and Anxiety, was found to be an effective antidepressant intervention in adult patients (ages 18 to 65) with a clinical diagnosis of major depression.

But lower-intensity exercise, such as yoga, has also shown potential benefits when it comes to mood. Research suggests yoga may help reduce depression and anxiety. A review of studies published in October 2019 in the Journal of Yoga, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation confirmed that yoga may be a strong complementary approach to pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatment.

Physical activity, even if it’s not intense, routine exercise, was associated with lower levels of depression in a review published in Frontiers in Psychology.

And a study published in September 2018 in the journal the Lancet Psychiatry, which analyzed data collected from 1.2 million adults age 18 and older in 2011, 2013, and 2015, found that individuals who reported exercising also reported having fewer days of poor mental health in the month preceding the survey, and that all types of exercise (including running, cycling, walking, gym exercise, winter sports, and others) were linked to a lower mental health burden overall.

The bottom line: It’s really up to you and what you like to do. “When trying to add exercise to your routine for better mental health, it is best to start with an activity a person enjoys,” says Saltz. That’s what you’re most likely to stick with, she says.

Pick something that sounds fun and you’re excited about doing. Play a game of basketball, football, or tennis. Go jogging or walking with a friend, or go for a bike ride. Take some time for yourself and rock out to music or watch a favorite TV show while you step away the miles on an elliptical or stair-climbing machine at the gym. Go for a hike, or take your kids outside to the park and play with them.

You can also try aerobic classes — a kickboxing or other martial arts class, a spinning class, or any aerobic fitness class offered by a local gym.

The key is to find what you enjoy, stick with it, and reap the ongoing benefits of a regular workout routine. And if you are struggling to get in the habit or lost as to what to do, explore group classes, work with a trainer, and check out community recreation offerings.