Sports and Mental Health

How Just 20 Minutes a Day Can Change Your Life

The month of May brings so many promises of growth and rebirth. The flowers start pushing towards the sun, pulling people outside, and there is a return to the notion of self-care. Self-care is so important all year long, but somehow it feels easier in the warmer months. Take advantage of the changing seasons, and get up and play!

The first week of May is both Children’s Mental Health Week and National Physical Education and Sports Week. Coincidence? I think not! Exercise actually reduces stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline, and increases your body’s natural release of serotonin and endorphins, fondly referred to as the “happy chemicals!” Studies have shown that just 20 to 30 minutes of exercise each day can lower stress and help people feel calmer, as well as reduced rates of anxiety and depression.

Exercise on it’s own is a fun and fantastic way to work on your mental and physical health, but sometimes it is hard to motivate yourself on your own. Team sports have been shown to increase executive functioning, creativity, cognitive development, and self-regulation. It also improves the length and quality of your sleep! We all know how important sleep is in maintaining a healthy mind and spirit, so why not tucker yourself out first? Consider joining a town-sponsored sports team and joining a community of children and their families taking charge and taking care of themselves.