Dark clouds hanging over your head? Go for a run, swim, cycle, or jump rope for 20 minutes. As a reward, you’ll receive a healthy dose of endorphins that will lift your spirits.
Contrary to popular belief, exercising in the evening is good for your sleep: it extends the deep sleep phase. However, don’t go to bed straight after a good sweat session; let your heart rate calm down first.
Cycling, hiking, or climbing stairs vigorously rejuvenates your brain. If you’re 40, you can reduce your brain age by about ten years, and if you’re 60, by more than twenty.
Yoga is a natural tranquilizer. This is because the exercise increases GABA levels in your brain. This neurotransmitter makes your brain less receptive to stimuli.
Children who move during lessons also become more mentally flexible. After a two-year experiment, students who had to jump and run during math lessons were five months ahead of other children of the same age.