With everything going on in the world and being cooped up in our houses far away from our loved ones, it’s no wonder that our mental health suffers.
If you’re looking for safe ways to get out in the open, squeeze in some exercise in your life and even safely socialize with some people, we have a perfect solution for you. Cycling!
Did you know that cycling can boost mental health in many different ways? If you want to find out all the positive impacts that cycling can have on our minds, keep scrolling on!
- Spending more time outdoors
Unfortunately, the whole world is currently in a bad place. Many countries have imposed social distancing and isolation measures and we’re forced to stay at our homes far away from friends and family. Being closed off in homes for longer periods without a company is something that negatively affects our mental health.
Cycling is a good way to bring you out in the open and make you do some exercises. Being outdoors, in the fresh air, and doing some sort of physical activity will make you feel good, energized, and more positive.
So, don’t waste any time, hop on your bike and cycle around your neighborhood if nothing else. This will definitely make your day a hundred times better, and improve your mood immediately.
- Cycling can make you feel good
When riding your bike not only are you doing some exercise out in the open, you’re also helping the planet. Bicycles don’t leave any sort of carbon footprint on our planet, they don’t pollute it and when riding your bike you can feel proud of yourself for helping the environment stay clean.
Taking care of your environment is something that should make you feel good and happy. Apart from that when cycling you’re completely occupied with what you’re doing and your mind can take a break from all the negative, brooding thoughts for a couple of hours.
And let’s not forget those scientifically proven ‘cycling highs’. After every bike ride, you’re experiencing a spike in serotonin and dopamine – these chemicals are responsible for the improvement of your mood. This means that cycling can make you feel good and happy!
- It reduces stress
This is the year that made even the calmest of people feel stressed. If you’re struggling to keep stress at bay, consider riding a bike. Cycling can reduce stress and keep anxiety away.
Since cycling is a form of exercise, it can reduce your ‘stress hormone’ also known as cortisol. Bike rides reduce cortisol levels making you feel calm and tension-free.
Reducing stress is highly important as stress can lead to anxiety and other conditions such as panic attacks, and depression.
- It reduces the risk of anxiety and depression
As you know, too much stress in your life can lead to anxiety, panic attacks, and even depression. When you ride your bike, you reduce stress levels which also decrease chances of having anxiety or other similar symptoms linked to depression.
As mentioned above, cycling releases happy chemicals into your bloodstream leaving you feeling happy and pain-free. This means that cycling has the same effect as some anti-anxiety medications.
Apart from reducing the risk of anxiety, cycling also reduces the chances of depression. Just like any physical activity, cycling can prevent depression. So, don’t wait any longer, if it’s a bike you need, visit an online bicycle shop and order the bike right now.
If you decide to buy a bike online, you can even have some awesome discounts. Plus, online bicycle shops have everything you may need – from accessories to additional parts.
- Cycling improves your memory
As we age, our brain ages with us, and due to that, we lose the ability to keep a sharp memory. Believe it or not, cycling can help with that, too!
It’s been proven that riding a bike can boost and improve hippocampal function. Hippocampus is a complex brain structure that has a major role in memory and all things that have to do with remembering, learning, and so on.
When cycling, we are stimulating certain regions of the brain – the hippocampus in particular. Apart from that, riding a bike also boosts the brain’s white matter as well.
- Cycling helps with creative thinking and productivity
As you may have noticed by now, all these mental health improvements are sort of linked to one another. When you’re cycling, you stimulate your brain, improve your mood, and you also feel more productive and creative.
Cycling boosts your energy levels making you more productive at work. Similarly, when you have a mental block and you’re creativity is lacking – just take a ride on your bike and your creativity will be restored.
Cycling is an exercise that helps you refocus, and destress. Apart from that, it allows you to spend time in the fresh air, which is another plus.
- Cycling boosts self-esteem
Cycling, as a form of exercise, helps us stay fit. The sedentary life most of us lead, and especially now when we’re forced to spend time at home, sitting around, working in front of computers – we all lack physical activity.
Riding a bike is a good way to start exercising. People who ride a bike are happy, healthy, and confident. Yes, cycling can improve our self-esteem, bring us a sense of accomplishment, and even improve our appearance. Improved appearance and fitness has a positive effect on how we see ourselves.
- It improves your social life
Turns out, we’re not done yet. The benefits of cycling keep piling up. Another benefit includes the improvement of social life. Cycling is an activity that can be done in a group, with a couple of people or in two. Find people who enjoy pedaling and spend some time working on yourself but well-accompanied.
Spending time with like-minded people can have countless benefits. You can openly discuss your thoughts and dreams without feeling judged or misunderstood. And you have people who inspire and motivate you right next to you!
The positive effects of cycling are many. From improving your physical and mental health to socializing with people and spending time in the fresh air. Cycling is one activity that has countless benefits.
While the world is currently in a weird place and our lives are all messed up, we still have cycling as a way to improve our mental health, boost our productivity, and make us feel happier! So, hop on your bike and pedal to a healthier life.
Leave a Reply