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12 October 2020
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Story Arina Engelbrecht
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Arina Engelbrecht from Organisational Development and Employee Well-being believes physical activity has a number of benefits for one’s health, including stress relief.
Being physically active plays a big role in preventing the development of mental-health problems and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental-health problems.
Treatment for depression
Physical activity can be an alternative treatment for depression. It can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with medication and/or psychological therapy. It promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns are formed that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It releases endorphins – powerful chemicals in the brain that energise your spirit and make you feel good.
Physical activity can be very effective in relieving stress. Research in adults has found that physically active individuals tend to have lower stress levels compared to individuals who are less active. It also leads to improved sleep. When a person sleeps better and feels more rested, overall quality of life improves. They cope better with daily life stressors.
Reduce Alzheimer's risk
Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 50%. It can also slow down further deterioration in those who have already started to develop cognitive problems. It stimulates the brain’s ability to maintain old connections as well as to make new ones.
A study asked people to rate their mood immediately after periods of physical activity (e.g. going for a walk/run, cycling, doing housework) and periods of inactivity (e.g. reading a book or watching television). Researchers found that participants felt more content, more awake, and calmer after being physically active compared to after periods of inactivity.
In conclusion, people who are physically active feel a sense of well-being, feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives.
“Being physically active not only changes your body, it changes your mind,
attitude, and your mood.” – Arina Engelbrecht
Public Administrators and scholars to talk governance at UFS
2012-03-06
Government officials and Public Administration scholars will gather at the University of the Free State (UFS) to discuss the state of governance in Africa. This occurs during the centenary of the African National Congress (ANC). They will attend the 12th annual conference of the South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM) that will take place on the Bloemfontein Campus from 7 to 9 March 2012.
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, and Ms Thandi Modise, Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC, will deliver keynote addresses at the conference. The Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metro Municipality will also speak at the event.
Scholars from across the country and the continent will cover topics ranging from service delivery to community participation as well as relations between the ANC and the Judiciary.
The conference is hosted in conjunction with the Centre for Africa Studies at the UFS.
See the pdf document with times and venues for the different sessions.