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Being physically active and mentally well

12 October 2020 | Story Arina Engelbrecht | Photo Supplied

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

News Archive

UFS staff attend conference in Poland

2006-07-21

Staff members of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences' Department of Public Management at the University of the Free State (UFS) attended the conference of the International Association of Schools and Institutions of Administration (IASIA) in Warsaw, Poland. During the visit the delegates also met the South African ambassador in Poland, Ms Febe Potgieter-Gqubele.

From the left: Prof Hendri Kroukamp (Programme Director: Public Sector Management); Prof Moses Sindane (Departmental Chairperson: Public Management); Ms Potgieter-Gqubele, Dr Liezel Lues (lecturer); Mr Lyndon du Plessis (lecturer) and Prof Koos Bekker (lecturer).

Prof Moses Sindane, Departmental Chairperson of the Department of Public Management at the University of the Free State (UFS), received the Pierre de Celles award for the best paper delivered at the IASIA's conference that was held in Miami in the USA in September 2003. The title of the paper was 'Public administration versus public management: Parallels, divergences, convergences and who benefits?'.

During the award ceremony were from the left: Prof Sindane, Prof Turgay Ergun (President of IASIA) and Prof Hendri Kroukamp ( Programme Director: Public Sector Management at the UFS and member of the management of IASIA).

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