Exercise is often hailed as a powerful tool for maintaining physical health, but its impact on mental health is just as significant. When combined with the consistent practice of breath control, exercise becomes a potent solution for alleviating anxiety and cultivating mental well-being. 

Whether it's school, relationships, or simply the demands of daily living, stress and anger can creep in and take a toll on our mental and emotional well-being. The good news is that there's a natural, readily available solution: exercise. 

Life comes with its unique set of challenges, and staying motivated can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Whether it's academic pressures, social dynamics, or personal goals, maintaining motivation is crucial for success.

School-related stresses and anxieties are common, but they can be managed with the right strategies. By addressing academic, social, and personal challenges head-on, we can create a healthier and more positive school experience.

Have you ever found yourself feeling sad and then decided to listen to a sad playlist? I know I definitely have, but I also recently wondered, “Does sad music actually help, or does it make it worse?”

For teens, stress is often a huge part of our lives. It can be difficult to manage and it can make it hard to control our anger. Here are some things you can do to limit the effects of stress and lead a happier life:

Multiple studies have recently proved a correlation between resistance training and a reduction in depressive symptoms in young adults. The two papers referenced in this blog are Effects of resistance exercise training on depressive symptoms among young adults: A randomized controlled trial and Association of Efficacy of Resistance Exercise Training With Depressive Symptoms.

If you’ve ever come home from a rough day to a pet you might already have a sense of how an animal can boost your mental health. Seeing a fluffy face wagging its tail, happy that your home can instantly improve your mood. Animals have been known to improve our day to day lives from therapy dogs in children’s hospitals or other places to service dogs.

Social media and other dopamine-stimulating apps prove harmful for one's sleep, memory and time management, yet it seems essential to maintain connections in the 21st century. How can we better manage our social media intake and stay productive throughout the day and night?

Exams are stressful. There’s no way around it. Whether it’s a huge final or just a pop quiz, the pressure to do well can feel overwhelming. I’ve been there: nervous, heart racing, stomach in knots. But over time, I’ve figured out some ways to manage that anxiety and keep my cool, even when exam day is looming. Here’s what works for me, and maybe it can help you too.

As the school year progresses and homework starts piling up, study sessions become longer, and how much sleep you get starts to decline, it’s imperative that you make sure to take a break once in a while! The stress of the school year can really affect you gradually, maybe without you even knowing it, so it’s important to stop once in a while and think, “Do I need a break?”

One experiment conducted related to exercising found that any negative word said or thought in your head during exercise, like “oh this sucks” and “I don’t want to do this” (I’ve been guilty of both), can produce stress causing hormones in your body and literally stop you from pushing yourself. 

When we feel anxious, our bodies automatically go into “fight-or-flight” mode, a survival mechanism that prepares us to respond to threats. This response is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system and triggers a flood of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones cause a range of physical reactions, including an increase in heart rate, quickened breathing, and muscle tension. 

Coaches play a huge role in an athlete’s overall experience, and when their approach is supportive and understanding, it can make all the difference. But, when coaches overlook or disregard athletes' mental well-being, they can unintentionally cause harm. Here’s a closer look at how different coaching styles impact athletes' mental health!