5 Ways Exercise Improves Your Mental Well-Being

October 29, 2025 | 07:23 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Exercise is not just about maintaining body shape or building muscles. It is undeniable that exercise can improve physical health, help in weight loss, and even prolong life. However, some people are motivated to exercise regularly because they feel a positive change in their mental well-being. Individuals who exercise regularly feel more energetic, sleep better, have sharper memory, and a more relaxed and positive mind.

Prior to this, Holywings Care held a healthy exercise session at Livehouse and Tembak Langit Batam on Sunday, October 26, 2025. The event was attended by hundreds of participants from various backgrounds, mostly from the general public ranging from young to old, especially residents from the Sungai Jodoh and Tanjung Uma neighborhoods. "Our goal is simple, to remind the public that health is a long-term investment. By regularly exercising, such as healthy gymnastics, the body becomes fitter, the mind fresher, and immunity increases," said Andrew Susanto, the Managing Director of Holywings Group and Chairman of the Holywings Care CSR program, in a statement received by Tempo on October 29, 2025.

Exercise is the most powerful remedy for those experiencing mental health issues. Here are some explanations of the benefits of exercise for mental health as stated by the official website of the Ministry of Health:

1. Reducing stress

Stress in the body can occur because the body releases adrenaline and cortisol hormones, causing various emotions. In addition to emotions, stress can also cause physical symptoms such as tense muscles, headaches, or neck and back pain. According to the Harvard Medical School, exercise can reduce stress hormone levels and increase endorphin production. Endorphins are hormones that stimulate feelings of pleasure and enthusiasm. Therefore, exercise is often the primary remedy when dealing with stress.

2. Managing anxiety and depression

Exercise helps alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression in two ways: by releasing endorphins and diverting the mind from worry. During exercise, individuals feel better because they can momentarily forget all the negative thoughts in their head.

3. Improving mood

People who exercise are found to be calmer and more enthusiastic. This is due to the release of endorphin and serotonin hormones during exercise, which improves mood.

4. Improving sleep quality

Exercise is also found to be beneficial in improving the quality of sleep for many people. Sleep and mental health are closely related. Generally, individuals with mental health disorders experience difficulty sleeping and poor sleep quality. Conversely, those with good sleep quality tend to have good mental health.

5. Boosting self-confidence

Exercise not only has a positive impact on physical health, but also influences self-confidence. With a healthy body and ideal weight, self-confidence unconsciously increases.

Considering the numerous benefits of exercise for mental health, perhaps you can start incorporating exercise into your daily routine. Exercise for mental health benefits does not have to be intense or time-consuming. Mild or moderate-intensity exercise is sufficient to improve mood and eliminate negative thoughts.

The health event in Batam started early in the morning, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere. Professional gymnastics instructors guided participants to perform various light and energetic gymnastic movements suitable for all ages. Participants were also invited to follow stretching and relaxation sessions to maintain body fitness after exercising.

Andrew Susanto stated that this event is part of a routine program held to educate the public about various health issues. In addition to the gymnastics session, the event also included a brief education about the importance of light exercise in preventing various chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disorders. Participants seemed enthusiastic about the whole series of activities, especially because of the warm and positive energy family-like atmosphere. "Hopefully, the public will increasingly realize that maintaining health does not have to be difficult or expensive, simply by moving regularly, socializing, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle," said Andrew.

One participant, Lina, expressed her joy in participating in this event. "Usually, exercise feels hard, but through events like this, it becomes enjoyable. The music is great, the movements are easy to follow, and the atmosphere is inspiring," she said.

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