--- title: The positive effects of exercise on mental health description: Exercise isn’t just about feeling good physically. Cheshire-based Personal Trainer Helen Murray takes a closer look at the positive effects it can have on your mental health. --- [0161 706 1072](tel:01617061072) [![logo-colour](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/brand-logos/logo-colour.svg "logo-colour")](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/) [![logo-white](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/brand-logos/logo-white.svg "logo-white")](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/) - [About you](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/about-you) - [About us](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/about-us) - [What we do](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/what-we-do) - [FAQs](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/faqs) - [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog) - [Contact](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/contact) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # The positive effects of exercise on mental health Wellbeing Articles 3 minute read by Helen Murray **Exercise isn’t just about feeling good physically. Cheshire-based Personal Trainer Helen Murray takes a closer look at the positive effects it can have on your mental health.** As a keen runner and coach, it goes without saying that I like to keep active. In fact, I’m not very good at sitting still at all. But sometimes, just like most other people, I really can’t be bothered to go to my pilates class or to put my trainers on for a run, or to get up early to go to the gym. Thankfully, I usually manage to ignore the little voice in my head telling me to stay put and I’m always so grateful for it. **I ALWAYS** feel better afterwards! The simple fact is that exercise benefits us in so many ways, both mentally and physically. ### Exercise **improves your mood**. When you exercise, your body releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins which produce a feeling of happiness. Even in the middle of winter, when it’s cold outside, wrapping up and heading out for a walk can instantly lift your mood. And what’s better, the feel-good factor lasts for a few hours after you have exercised. ### Being active can **reduce anxiety** and help to **keep you calm**. Last summer, my husband and I went cycling in Italy. Before our trip, I had been worrying a lot about work and I was struggling to switch off. Cycling took my mind off EVERYTHING! It was incredible escapism and it really taught me to appreciate being in the moment. Exercise – even gentle exercise - gives you time and space to work things through in your head and being outside in fresh air can sometimes help you to see things from a different perspective. As we get older and life expectancy increases, keeping fit and healthy becomes more and more important for our mental well-being, because it helps to maintain cognitive functions like **attention and concentration**. A clinical study in Japan by Kawano, Mimura and Kaneko (1992) found that table tennis not only boosts motor skills and cognitive awareness, but also markedly increases blood flow to the brain which could possibly help to prevent dementia. ### Goal setting is key. Goal setting plays a really key part in maintaining motivation when it comes to exercise. But achieving those small targets you set yourself also brings a real buzz which **improves** your confidence and **builds self-esteem**. At my “Workout Wednesday” lunchtime class, it has been amazing to witness everyone’s **confidence levels** **increase** on a weekly basis as they achieve things they didn’t think were possible. The mere act of running for longer or doing two more squats than the previous week is hugely motivating. ### Bring your friends! I really love seeing the positive impact exercise has on people when it comes to **friendships**, **camaraderie** and **feeling valued**. Whether you join a yoga class, cycle with friends or take part in your local parkrun, the value of sharing experiences with others should not be underestimated. I regularly arrange to meet a friend at the gym, mainly because it helps me to get up and get going! We also work harder than if we were by ourselves because we offer each other invaluable motivation and support. Exercising with others can also act as a wonderful sort of therapy as you inevitably catch up during rest periods or go for a coffee afterwards! ### Keeping fit also **improves your body image.** I look back at photos of me as a chubby student and remember how self-conscious I used to feel. I now look at photos and I see a confident woman, usually wearing Lycra, but always smiling…probably from the endorphins that are whizzing around my body! If you enjoyed Helen’s blog, you might like to read [No time? you can still keep fit](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/no-time-you-can-still-keep-fit/) --- *Helen Murray is a Personal Trainer and triathlon coach, based in Cheshire. She also co-hosts the Oxygen Addict triathlon podcast. Find out more at* [*www.helenfmurray.wordpress.com*](http://www.helenfmurray.wordpress.com). *If you haven't exercised for a long time or you are concerned about the effects of exercise on your body or health, consult your GP*. ## Latest insights and articles [Lifestyle](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/lifestyle) [Relationships](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/relationships) [financial planning](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/financial-planning) [divorce](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/divorce) [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/blog) ##### How Hard Is It To Say No? [Read more](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/how-hard-is-it-to-say-no) 3 minute read [financial planning](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/financial-planning) [divorce](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/divorce) [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/blog) ##### The Questions Almost Every Divorce Client Asks (But Often Too Late) [Read more](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/the-questions-almost-every-divorce-client-asks) 2 minute read [Wellbeing](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/wellbeing) [financial planning](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/financial-planning) [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/blog) ##### What a Week at Club La Santa Taught Me About Financial Planning [Read more](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/what-a-week-at-club-la-santa-taught-me-about-financial-planning) 2 minute read [See all articles](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog) ![Smart divorce](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/brand-logos/logo-colour.svg "Smart divorce") #### Menu - [About you](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/about-you) - [About us](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/about-us) - [What we do](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/what-we-do) - [FAQs](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/faqs) - [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog) - [Contact](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/contact) #### Address Beehive Lofts, Unit 4.1 Waulk Mill 51 Bengal Street Manchester M4 6LN ![AFPF_logo_118-small](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/website-images/accreditations/AFPF_logo_118-small.jpeg?width=200&height=58&name=AFPF_logo_118-small.jpeg) ![ch firm58](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/website-images/accreditations/ch%20firm58.png?width=241&height=58&name=ch%20firm58.png)   #### Sign up to our newsletter - [Privacy Policy](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/privacy-policy) - [Terms and Conditions](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/terms-and-conditions) Site developed by [ClientsFirst](https://www.clients-first.co.uk/) Smart Divorce is a trading style of Smart Financial Planning Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can find Smart Financial Planning Ltd on the FCA register by [clicking here](https://register.fca.org.uk/ShPo_FirmDetailsPage?id=001b000000Mg7KfAAJ). Smart Financial is registered in England & Wales. Company number: 06274060. Registered Office: Beehive Lofts, Unit 4.1, Waulk Mill, 51 Bengal Street, Manchester, M4 6LN. The guidance and/or advice contained in this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore restricted to consumers based in the UK. The FCA does not regulate tax or estate planning. © 2026 All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Helen Murray", "url" : "https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/author/helen" }, "dateModified" : "2023-09-06T11:01:28.437Z", "datePublished" : "2018-02-20T10:56:07.000Z", "headline" : "The positive effects of exercise on mental health", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/the-positive-effects-of-exercise-on-mental-health", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/brand-logos/logo-colour.svg" }, "name" : "Smart Divorce" } } ```