Exercises & Activity what will help fight depression

1. WALKING or Hiking

Its relatively low impact, and gets you out in the fresh air what's great for improving mental wellbeing. Going for a walk can clear your head, and help with mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Its suitable for all levels of fitness and increases your TDEE ( total daily energy expenditure) This is the total energy a person uses each day so you will burn more calories without doing strenuous exercise which will help with weight loss. You don't have to exercise for a full hour or make it challenging to be beneficial to your wellbeing. You can start by giving yourself a daily step goal.

2. YOGA

Yoga’s foundations are based around spirituality, relaxation and tranquility. Plus, it can be a calming exercise that allows you to centre entirely on yourself and your body. If you haven't tried it give it a go.You could start with a beginner class and you don't have to be super flexible. It's also great for improving any back pain or joint pain too and for meeting new people and improving your social life what will help with mental wellbeing.

3. HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT)

If you’re looking for a workout that is going to be challenging, but at the same time as giving your emotional wellbeing a boost, then HIIT or circuit training could be a good option. It’s a fantastic way to increase your heart rate, requires little to no equipment, and is good if you are pushed for time as a session lasts roughly 30 mins. You can still try HIIT if you feel unfit simply go at your own pace since it's circuit based. There are lots of basic HIIT workouts for beginners what require no equipment on Unraveled.

4. RUNNING

Running is one of the most celebrated activities for combining fitness with mental wellbeing. It can take place outside at your favourite place such as the beach or a place you enjoy going to. Mood-elevating endorphins combine with the post-run ‘runners high’, encouraging a feeling of improved wellbeing and achievement.

5. RESISTANCE TRAINING

Resistance training is exercise that involves pushing or pulling against some kind of force, whether that’s free weights, weights machines or even your own body weight. The focus is on improving strength or building muscle, which in turn can offer a wide range of positive effects on your body. There’s also lots of other ways resistance training could positively affect mental health.

Benefits include improved memory, lower anxiety, better sleep, improved cognition and a chance of battling depression and chronic fatigue. It also helps massively with menopause symptoms. Plus, resistance training is an excellent way to boost self-esteem and confidence. As you work on your strength, hitting new personal bests can be very rewarding.

If you’re interested in starting or developing your own wellbeing journey take inspiration from some of our Unraveled users who have used exercise to boost their own mental health by doing group step challenges, and quick home workouts. You can get a personalised health score and start a 14 day trial here

STRUGGLING WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? PLEASE SEEK HELP AND SUPPORT

Please know that it's okay not to be okay, and that you are not alone. 1 in 4 people experience mental health issues each year. If you are struggling with your mental health, please speak to someone you can trust like a friend or family member or a doctor and get support. There are also Mental Health organisations and charities, such as Tyneside and Northumberland Mind where you can get more information and support