Do you feel depression and anxiety overflowing your mind? Maybe you should consider doing exercises that positively influence your mental health. While many physical exercises are great for your body, people rarely think about the benefits of exercises on your mental wellbeing. What exercises are fantastic for your entire body and mind?
Outdoor cycling can improve your physical and mental health! Being in the fresh air, working out is amazing for your body, while you rest your mind from all the stressful happenings from that day. So, how can outdoor cycling really increase your mental health?
1. It Improves Your Mood
Do you feel grumpy and moody without a proper reason? Maybe you’re lacking physical activities! While joggers have runner’s high and mountain climbers feel that adrenaline kick in, by cycling outdoors you’ll improve your mood! How is that possible?
Sports and activities like cycling increase the blood flow through your body, stimulating the release of the feel-good hormones. Hormones like endorphin and dopamine make you feel good and improve your mood. By simply going outside for a 30-minute ride, you’re allowing your body to do its magic and make you feel better.
2. Amazing Stress Buster
Stress is one of the major factors why many people struggle in daily life. Stress is all around us. In the pandemic, jobs, relationships, work, chores, films, etc. Hence, it’s certainly true that stress affects our mental health and makes us feel helpless. Is there a way to wave the stress goodbye?
Since gyms are closed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can’t go there to get rid of the stress. However, no one is stopping you from hopping on your bike and riding the stress away. Did you know that people who frequently cycle experience 15% less stress than people who don’t?
3. Helps You Sleep Better
Did you know that a good night’s sleep is essential for your mental health? If you can’t sleep at night, chances are you’ll wake up tired and grumpy, which will certainly affect your mood for that day. But is there a way to improve the quality of your sleep with outdoor cycling?
Believe it or not, outdoor cycling can help you have high-quality sleep and fall asleep faster? How? Well, when you’re physically active, especially in the fresh air, you’ll tire your body out, which will help you fall asleep faster. On top of that, it relieves stress, which can help you sleep better.
4. Improves Your Memory and Creativity
Memory and creativity are essential in most types of businesses. However, as we age and are constantly under pressure, memory loss is expected to happen. But is there a way to prevent that or improve our memory and creativity?
Believe it or not, outdoor cycling is one of the best solutions for you. While you’re being physically active, you’re building stronger neuron networks in your brain which boosts your memory. Besides that, keeping balance and uniformly turning the pedals, you’re relaxing your brain allowing it to generate more and better ideas!
5. You Can Ride Socially
Due to the global pandemic, social contacts have been minimised. Since we, people, are social beings, this has horribly affected most of us. We’re used to seeing our colleagues, hugging our friends, going out in the clubs and bars. However, while the pandemic lasts, we’re not allowed to do any of that.
However, cycling can help you there too! When you hop on your bike, you’re at least two metres away from the other cyclers, which means that you can chat and ride the bike at the same time. As long as you’re not at risk of endangering your or other people’s health, you can invite friends for rides any time you’d like some company!
6. Relieves Anxiety
ave you tried exercising when you’re feeling anxious? Aerobic activities, such as cycling, is a fantastic way of minimising the effects of anxiety on your daily life. Additionally, cycling can help you prevent current anxiety from developing into a panic attack or a disorder.
Besides that, cycling is a low-impact exercise that doesn’t put too much pressure on your knees and joints. So, if you’re worried about your physical health, cycling is the best way to stay active. It’s also a natural way of overcoming anxiety. Cycling teaches you how to breathe properly and control your thoughts.
7. Fits Perfectly Into Your Schedule
Many people complain that they don’t have enough time for physical exercises. Are you one of them? If so, you’re in the wrong, because believe it or not, cycling fits perfectly into your busy schedule! But how does that help your mental health?
Cycle every day to work. Instead of being stuck in traffic jams losing your nerve about being in the office on time, cycle there and save time! On top of that, cycling helps you save money as well. If you purchase your bike from an online bicycle shop, you’ll save more money than you’d spend on the gas for your car. Think about it!
8. It Gets You Out in the Open
Have you ever gotten advice that going for a walk can help you lift your mood up? Even though some people doubt the validity of that, going out can really help you feel better. But it’s not about the walk! It’s the fresh air plus the exercise that helps you minimise the effects of bad mood and depression.
How can fresh air help? Being outside makes you happier. You breathe in the fresh air and keep your body moving. It’s a fantastic way to exercise your mind and body during a pandemic. In addition to that, vitamin D helps your complexion and sun rays immediately lift seasonal depression off your shoulders.
Conclusion
As you can see, outdoor cycling is extremely beneficial for your physical and mental health. All you need is a good-quality bike and nice weather to cycle everywhere you go. It helps the planet, saves you time and money, and improves your mental health! Is there a better activity than cycling?
