How Exercise Can Benefit Mental Health: A Guide to Lockdown

How Exercise Can Benefit Mental Health During Lockdown

The world might seem like quite a lonely place right now, especially when trapped inside your house like a caged animal. There is only so long you can stare at the same four walls before cabin fever eventually sets in. It is a widely known fact that long periods of indoor confinement can have a detrimental impact on mental health. One whole month has passed since the Prime Minister announced yet another national lockdown, but for many of us it probably feels like decades. With no upcoming events in the diary, you might have reached the stage where you are chalking tally marks on your bedroom wall. I found that running was the best therapy to escape the confines of my own head. It gave me an excuse to leave the house and, most importantly, it brought back a semblance of routine.

Before this national lockdown, the thought of putting on a pair of running shoes almost brought bile to my mouth. I could not understand how anyone in their sane mind would voluntarily subject themselves to physical exercise. But after weeks of thumb twiddling and pen clicking, I decided to change my lifestyle. I needed a different hobby besides from sitting in front of my computer screen and took it upon myself to run around the block. Although I was breathless before I had even turned the corner, I absolutely loved it. The thought of just travelling somewhere that wasn’t the fridge was itself such a luxury that I made of habit of doing it every day. These are some suggestions to hopefully get you started!

I would recommend finding yourself a scenic route around your local area, without many crossings to obstruct your momentum. Make sure to compile a playlist of your favourite songs beforehand so you can listen to them while you run. Podcasts are also very popular but unfortunately James O’Brien’s voice isn’t going to push me that extra distance. It might be exhausting at first, but eventually you will see the benefits. If not physically then definitely mentally. Try pushing yourself a little further each time. I would advise keeping track of your progress via a fitness app so you can work towards a specific goal. Be patient with the process. Nobody expects you to be Mo Farah overnight. The bliss about running is that you are not in competition with anyone else. I don’t care if you can run a marathon in two hours, because what matters the most is how it makes you feel. Travel at your own pace and take breaks when necessary. There is nothing worse than pulling a hamstring halfway across an uncharted hillside and having to limp three miles home.

For those of you who may feel self-conscious about the idea of exercising in public: don’t panic. Nobody is going to shoot you a sidelong glance for running. As a matter of fact, they are probably envious that you possess enough motivation to stay active. Believe it or not, you are likely inspiring people to do likewise. But even if that proves a difficult hurdle to overcome then stick to quieter areas. Besides, there should plenty of them with the national restrictions in place. I understand that not everyone is fortunate enough to live in the Cotswolds where there is an abundance of footpaths to explore. If not, I would recommend leaving your exercise until later in the evening. Allow the daytime traffic to disappear and you can run without the fear of having an audience.

There are several reasons why physical exercise can lift your spirits. Firstly, studies have shown that exercise increases blood circulation to the brain and thus stimulates the limbic system into action (a group of structures in the brain which regulate emotion.) Secondly, exercise helps to release endorphins which trigger the opiate receptors in the body. These hormones give out the equivalent effect of a painkiller, alleviating psychological stress. Exercise is so often overlooked for its therapeutic benefits. Most people think it is all about improving their physique when actually it is an effective mediator of the mind. Even running ten minutes a day can do wonders for anxiety, depression and boredom.

No doubt there will be days where you simply can’t find enough motivation to exercise. You might look at the rain falling outside your window and opt to remain indoors. It might be that you had a stressful day at work and just want to relax for the evening. Whatever the circumstances, the last thing you should do is bully yourself about it. You are allowed days off. This is not some strict regime to transform you into a professional athlete. This is about improving your mental wellbeing so you can get through lockdown without losing foothold of your sanity. If that means treating yourself to that packet of unopened biscuits grinning at you from the kitchen cupboard then go ahead.

Above all, these last few months have been challenging for everyone. And though we must abide by the national guidelines, I would also hasten to add that we must be mindful of mental health. There are so many people suffering behind closed doors, whose desperate appeals are being muffled by this pandemic. I would urge anyone to reach out to those who could be suffering right now. Brighten their day with a text message. FaceTime them one evening to see how they are doing. These small gestures will make so much difference.