What are the benefits of physical fitness on mental health?

Neil Harmsworth, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Hussle

Neil is the co-founder of Hussle, a leading UK fitness marketplace which enables companies to invest in the wellbeing of their employees through highly inclusive, affordable, multi-brand gym access, available in 96% of UK postcode regions.

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The middle of May each year marks mental health awareness week. Aiming to raise awareness of the many challenges that 1 in 4 of us will experience each year, the week aims to open up conversations to address the stigma associated with such conditions, and campaign for better support for those in need. While this should really happening every week of the year, this year’s theme of ‘Moving more for our mental health’ did strongly resonate with us all, here at Hussle.

According to the World Health Organisation, just under 1 billion people globally live with a mental disorder on an annual basis. There are a huge number of factors that can affect and help manage mental wellbeing. When it comes to physical activity, the evidence is unaminous. Exercise, of any form and intensity can help reduce the risk of suffering from poor mental health and help manage periods of ill-health if and when they occur.

Here are just a couple (amongst many) significant statistics that we like to share when communicating the true impact that fitness can have:

● On average, and individual has 3.4 poor mental health days per month. Among those who exercise, this number drops by 40%.

● Workers who exercise are 46% better at handling stress than those who do not.

As we seek to continually grow Hussle’s offering of fitness as an employee benefit, one of the strongest motivations for our work is the valuable impact that exercise can have upon employee wellbeing. We know that we can help them become more resilient to work stresses, financial pressures, and become better equipped to handle the challenges they face outside of work.

How can exercise help with mental wellbeing?

Firstly, the science. Being active reduces levels of adrenaline and cortisol, the body’s key stress hormones, helping reduce any existing mental distress. Additionally, it triggers the release of endorphins – natural mood elevators that give us a mental ‘lift’. Ever heard of ‘runners high’? That’s our endorphins at work.

Beyond the physiological changes that help us to feel good, fitness can have a profound psychological impact upon us too. Working to achieve our exercise goals isn’t easy (so long as we challenge ourselves enough!) When we achieve our targets, whatever they may be, this can help build an improved sense of confidence and self worth, helping us to feel more capable and better succeed in other areas of life.

Exercise also helps improve our sleep quality – a crucial contributor to our overall wellbeing. The factors I’ve just mentioned help contribute to this, but exercise also helps to regulate sleep patterns. The relationship then becomes cyclical. When we sleep well, we are better energised to participate in activity the following day. When we realise it’s having a positive impact on our overall wellbeing, this helps boost our motivation, too.

Social connections are also a very important factor, contributing to our mental health. Exercise can be a great way to help build social interaction. Whether through team sports, finding a gym partner, or joining a group workout class, it can be a great opportunity to meet like minded individuals, and build lasting, trusted friendships.

Many top athletes have spoken openly about how their fitness routines have helped support their mental health. English Cricketer Ben Stokes and heavyweight boxing legend, Frank Bruno are noteworthy examples. Both have advocated for the routine that fitness has helped provide them with, offering a reliable and constructive outlet for stress.

What are the best types of exercise for good mental health?

The short answer? All kinds.

However it’s important to choose an activity that you enjoy. While there might be grueling periods within a particularly high intensity class or long distance run, for example, it should still bring you satisfaction, and enjoyable moments along the way!

It really could be anything. You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic or professional athlete in order to benefit. Outdoor walking or gardening can be really worthwhile. Or you might enjoy lifting weights in the gym, a specific class like spinning or circuit training; or swimming. For those looking to start something new, I’d really recommend trying a few different activities and finding out what is best for you.

There are countless forms of exercise, sport and physical activity out there. They are all beneficial to long and short-term health, both physical and mental. The most important step? Get started. After that? Keep going! It’s not always easy at first, but with time you’ll learn to enjoy it, feel the benefits, and with time, depend on it.

For any business leader, wellbeing specialist or HR professional out there looking to support the mental wellbeing of their staff, Hussle’s employee fitness benefits are a fantastic option, having already had a highly worthwhile influence within a full range of organisations across the UK.

We partner with thousands of amazing fitness facilities, including gyms, pools, spas and online fitness apps. Thanks to our extensive UK coverage, we see uptake levels as high as 25% within the companies who partner with us. They value our variety in terms of venues and geographical reach, meaning that our members can work out where they want, and how they want to.

We’d love to hear from you, as we continue with our mission to elevate employee wellbeing, one workout at a time!

For more information visit: hussle.com