Shake it off or move slow - here’s how to exercise for mental health

Psychologist Susannah Kimmel explains the power of regular exercise, including its ability to reduce stress, improve sleep, and lower the risk of depression and anxiety.

Why is exercise so good for mental health?

• It can distract you form negative thoughts.
• Reconnect you to your body.
• Give you a boost of feel-good chemicals in your brain, impacting your mood.
• Exercising with others can also improve feelings of loneliness and provide social support.

3 tips around exercising for your mental health

1. Find exercise that compliments how you're feeling. If you’re feeling anxious, you might want to try something that encourages deep breathing. Think gentle and soothing movements such as yoga or swimming.
2. Pay attention to your body. Staying mindful as you exercise is a great way to channel your focus onto different sensations and help you detach from negative thoughts.
3. Be accountable. Low motivation is common with mental health issues so one of the best things to work towards is accountability. Try paying in advance for exercise classes or meeting up regularly with a friend to exercise together.

Are you facing obstacles to exercise? Learn more about our support programs for:

• Osteoarthritis
• Cardiovascular disease, diabetes

When to seek help

If you think that you may be experiencing depression or anxiety, visit your GP. They’ll be able to assess your symptoms, create a health treatment plan, or refer you to a psychologist.

24/7 support, for when exercise isn't the immediate answer

There are also some great free services available through mental health organisations such as:

• Beyond Blue
• Lifeline
• Black Dog Institute
• Headspace

For a full list of services recommended by the government, check out the Head to Health service providers page.