Most people associate exercise with just muscle development, not thinking of what it can do mentally. Today there is evidence that regular exercise can lift the spirits.
One of the reasons for the mental lift is certainly the common emphasis on self improvement. Just as food is needed for our bodies, achievements and reward are needed for healthy egos. Sometimes it is difficult to satisfy this “mental hunger” within the confines of the domestic environment. Exercise and sports can provide a unique opportunity for finding achievement and reward.
For example, you may begin an activity such as jogging or swimming at the minimal levels of half a kilometer or three pool lengths, and feel exhausted at the end of each session. With a few weeks of regular participation, however, you can see and feel tremendous improvement in your capacity. Your jog becomes a strong and steady three kilometer run or now, you swim ten pool lengths and climb out unwinded.