How can sport and exercise benefit your mental health?

By Joel McCalmont

It should be no surprise that regular exercise provides more benefits than simply improving

physical fitness. There are opportunities for social and mental growth within participation in

team sports: meeting new people, building bonds with others you may never have met

otherwise, as well as the highs of victory within competition. Everyone within a sport craves

the pride and sense of accomplishment they feel when they wear their medal or lift the

trophy, as the culmination of their hard work bears its fruit. Many that struggle with mental

health issues may also struggle with motivating themselves to be active when they’re feeling

low. However, there are many benefits for all people who partake in exercise, and we can

look at the science and personal anecdotes of fellow athletes and active friends and family

members to see how we can try to lift some of these burdens and help us get even 1%

closer to our goals.

Sport England notes three main ways that regular exercise can benefit your mental health:

improved mood, reduced stress, and increased self-esteem. They also mention that regular

exercise can help manage pre-existing issues such as anxiety and depression. Mayo Clinic

further explains that exercise can ease symptoms of anxiety and depression by releasing

feel-good endorphins and by helping you take your mind off any worries for the brief period

that you are exercising/partaking in your sport for.

Endorphin release is what causes the feeling of happiness and accomplishment at the end

of a workout. Any form of hard work or exercise can cause your body to release these

endorphins, whether its weight training, cardio, or a training session within your respective

sports. If your body goes under the feeling of stress provided by a workout, it will feel

accomplished when it finishes this task. Many labourers note that the heavy lifting in their

employment helps contribute to their daily exercise, and as such, they benefit from the

endorphin release in their body.

Sometimes the ability to partake in a sport, whether it is new to you, or you have played it for

years, provides you with an escape from the world for even a few hours. Daniel, 24, is a

huge fan of playing and watching football, and also similarly loves American football. When

asked how playing these sports helps his mental health, he sees that the science is true,

saying, “For me, playing any of the sports I love brings me a huge sense of calm even when

there is a lot on my mind or a lot going on in my day to day. Having that time to get out into

the fresh air and participate in a group sport with all your mates, people you can be yourself

around, it is a very freeing feeling. I also find that, after an intense training session on a cold

day, the sense of physical effort often results in a massive increase in mental endorphins

and you feel accomplished, that you have really given your all to the session or to the match

and the positive effect on your mental health from that, in my experience, is unmatched.”

Daniel plays for the Causeway Giants American Football Team, based in Armoy. He believes

that the team aspect of sport is a big boost to mental health; “I think the best part about my

team sport and specifically the Causeway Giants is the true sense of camaraderie. When I’m

around the team, I feel like I’m surrounded by a family that cares about one other and not

just on the field but quite often off the field. Having that sense of friendship and brotherhood,

and injecting that into a team sport where you are all fighting for the same goal, it evokes

such passion and excitement for the game. Being able to play a sport you love, alongside

people you see as family, fills my soul with such pride and joy every time I step foot on the

field - I fight for them, and we all fight for each other, it’s an insanely gratifying feeling.”

I personally find that the moments spent on the pitch, in the gym, or even just messing about

recreationally playing random sports with my friends are some of my favourite memories,

and the highlights of my week. When you develop a love for sport and exercise, and it is a

healthy obsession/relationship, then it becomes the best part of your day or your week. It

may be hard to dive into the deep end when beginning a new sport or starting a new gym

after not being active for a long time; but no one is asking you to go all in from day one. Baby

steps are crucial and there will be options available to anyone. It may be an introductory gym

class, or a beginner’s running club. It may even be a new sports team starting up and

amateurs are encouraged to join and learn from the very beginning. No matter what it is you

wish to do or what level of fitness or knowledge you are at, you always have your place, and

you are always wanted, inside and outside of sports.

If you are interested in joining a sports team within Queen’s many accept beginners and club

can be found on the SU website using this link! https://home.q-su.org/club-socs/