6-Will Exercise Make Me Happier? (Part 1 of 4)

Episode 6: Most research shows that exercise makes us feel good. Even a half hour a day of cardio. So this has got me thinking about my health, both physically and mentally.  Can exercise be the ticket to help with both?  Join us in this 4 part series to find out and hear some ah-ha mindset shifts along the way. 

Transcript:

Welcome to Everyday Happiness where we create lasting happiness, in 2 minutes a day,  through my signature method of Intentional Margins (creating harmony between your to-dos and your priorities), happiness science, and musings about life. 

I'm your host Katie Jefcoat and today we’re talking about exercise. 

Most research shows that exercise makes us feel good. Even a half hour a day of cardio. Not only do the happiness scientists agree but also in a recent book by Sanjay Gupta, who is a neurosurgeon, also indicates that exercising is really crucial to a well rounded self. 

So this has got me thinking about my health, both physically and mentally.  Can exercise be the ticket to help with both?  

Exercise can increase your dopamine (which is the feel good hormone) and serotonin levels (which make everything in your mind more even and less super “hot” or super down), making it a great option to boost your happy hormones.  

I’m not a scientist, but I can see this.  Going for a run when you are super stressed out increases serotonin.  I mean, you won’t catch me running unless someone is chasing me, but I can see how it works for some people.   

And of course, exercise produces these good endorphins, which can increase happiness, so I’ve bought into the science of “why” exercise is good for my happiness and perhaps, my mental health generally.  

It’s almost impossible to say that exercise isn’t good for you.  

But, I’m not the girl to hit the gym, or go for a run. It’s not for me.  So tomorrow I’m going to share with you my mental hack to re-frame how I was thinking about exercise, and I think you’re going to like it. 

In the meantime, let’s connect on social at @everydayhappinesswithkatie and join the community on the hashtags #IntentionalMargins and #everydayhappinesswithkatie on Instagram.