Why Does Running Boost Your Mood?
The world is full of spontaneous things that make us feel happy, sad, angry, disgusted, or even full of admiration for something that we see, hear, smell, taste, or feel. In a view of a fact, we are having mixed emotions and frequent changes of mood or so-called mood swings that are very common nowadays. In your free time, you somehow decided to make a run so that you can improve your Cardiovascular Endurance and Health so you can make up for the Saturday Slack-off you had since it was the weekend. Nevertheless, you are not only physically fit and healthy because of the running that you are doing, but also keep your mentality, healthy and great.
Regardless of that, why does running helps you by lifting your mood? What are the reasons behind it? Let us first keep in mind that running is defined as a method of terrestrial locomotion that allows humans and animals to move their feet rapidly. There are somehow difficulties that you face in running when you are a first-timer.
You may face some annoying challenges such as:
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- Stomach Cramps
- Side Stitches
- Sore Muscles
- Breathing Problems or Shortness of Breath
- Pain in your feet
- Sluggish Running
- Sleep problems after running
- Back Pain
Despite having these difficulties, there is a bright side in which running lifts our moods, and here are the reasons:
- It alleviates or manages stress – Running, can control stress and it also lifts the body’s ability to handle the existing mental tension. Running increases, the concentration of norepinephrine, a chemical that helps to moderate the brain’s response to stress.
- Running in the morning is the best – While you are outside and enjoying the sunny morning, the sunlight gives you vitamins. Getting sunlight can increase your serotonin, which can stove off the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. The sunlight while running can boost your mood and somehow decreases anxiety and depression, especially with the help of treatments or medications.
- It calms the state of your mind – The substances released during and after jogging can help anxiety sufferers feel more relaxed. Getting your body moving, whether it’s on a treadmill, tracks, trail, or pavement, is a good method to deal with stressful situations.
- It boosts brainpower – Cardiovascular exercise such as running can help the brain start growing cells and improve its overall performance. A hard run raises blood levels of a brain-derived protein that is thought to aid decision-making, higher thinking, and learning.
- It is the faster way to relax and sleep – Even for people who suffer from insomnia, a moderate run can be equal to sleeping medicine. The body’s core temperature was increased by moving five to six hours before night. The body knows it’s time to sleep when the body temperature returns to normal after a few hours.
- It elevates productivity – A study shows that people who lend their time to take a short run on a regular basis are more productive and have a stock of energy than those who are less active.
- It gives you creativity – A vigorous run can stimulate creativity for up to two hours afterward. Rather than staring at a blank paper, get your feet moving and refresh one’s body and mind at the same time.
This proves that when you are running, it makes you productive, healthy, and always going. With that, you should always keep in mind that when you feel unmotivated and struggles with the mood swing, stop and just run it away.