Exercise can serve as a tool for self improvement in different areas of life as it improves your fitness and health. Of the infinite number of health related benefits to exercising, some include lower blood pressure, better mental health, more stamina and endurance, increased flexibility, and the list goes on and on.

All of these improvements are great, but what do these benefits ultimately lead to and how do they impact our quality of life? Read on for some unexpected benefits of exercise that will motivate you to start getting a consistent routine, not only for your own benefit but also for those around you. 

1. Add years to your life

Our cells contain structures called telomeres, which protect your chromosomes and play a large roe in the aging process of cells. Over time, telomeres will shorten, causing natural cell aging. We have the amazing ability to lengthen and strengthen our own telomeres through consistent and smart exercise, which will add quality years to your life! People who exercise regularly generally feel younger and more vibrant than people who are younger but sedentary. 

2. Exercise can help you to be better at your job

With consistent exercise you will reap the benefits of better sleep with increased energy and alertness throughout the day. You will feel more well rested in the mornings, having less of a need to hit the snooze button. Waking up on time and feeling less sluggish in the mornings, you will be able to better manage your stress levels.

At work you will have more mental clarity, helping you to be more efficient when under pressures of deadlines and performance. Your time management and decision making skills will also improve, and all of these benefits will be evident in your quality of work.  

3. You’ll be able to enjoy nature in a variety of ways 

Some of the health benefits of daily exercise include strength, endurance, and decreased chronic pain. When your body feels strong, you have more options and opportunities to enjoy the vastness of nature besides just going for walks or sitting outside.

There are countless ways to explore the great outdoors, including but not limited to hiking, backpacking, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, mountain climbing, biking, trail running, skiing, and the list goes on and on!

4. Keeping up with the kids (furry kids included)

We already mentioned the impact that exercise has on energy levels. If you deal with brain fog or chronic fatigue, incorporating movement and physical activity can help to decrease those symptoms. With the added physical and mental clarity, strength and endurance, you’ll be able to spend more quality time with your more energetic family members, such as kids, grandkids, and even pets.

Playing in the house or running around the yard will be easier, and you’ll be able to engage more in these kinds of activities without burning out as fast. Instead of sitting and watching the kids play, you can be part of the fun too, and that is a recipe for great family memories. 

5. Strengthened relationships and community building

Exercising with a loved one is a great way to build and strengthen a bond. Exercising with a group of strangers can help you to make new connections and form new friendships. There’s something about going through a challenging or fun physical experience that brings people together in a special way. Exercise partners can help to motivate each other and make the workout more fun, even having healthy competitions trying to outdo each other. 

6. You will be more confident and empowered

Trying a new exercise for the first time may be a challenge, but over time of practicing, what was once a challenge will become easy. You’ll prove to yourself that you are capable of taking on challenges and persevering, both physically and mentally. When you face challenging situations in your daily life, you’ll have the confidence and trust in yourself to know that you can persevere through anything life throws at you. 

7. More independence into your older years

It’s common in our society as we age to become more dependent and reliant on others, primarily due to physical limitations. But it doesn't have to be that way at all. With consistent exercise throughout your life, your body can stay strong and mobile even in your older years. With healthy strength and mobility, you can stay physically able to do things for yourself, maintaining your independence well into your older years.

There are many more ways that exercising can improve our quality of life, these are just a few. You can enjoy these benefits and certainly owe it to yourself to reap the rewards of consistent exercise, it may just take a little sweat to earn it.

Here at EpitomeFit we specialize in helping individuals over the age of 40 reap a better quality of life through not only movement and exercise, but through nutrition and lifestyle habits as well. If you want to find out how to start using exercise to be the best version of yourself that you can be, contact us today at info@epitomefit.com!