---
title: Need a Mental Boost? Cardio Workouts Are Great for your Mental Health
description: Cardio exercises can help sharpen your brain and help you become more energetic when you're feeling slow.
---

[Gym Source Blog: Fitness Spotlight](https://blog.gymsource.com)

# [Need a Mental Boost? Cardio Workouts Are Great for your Mental Health](https://blog.gymsource.com/need-a-mental-boost-cardio-workouts-are-great-for-your-mental-health)

 Written by [Michelle Willette](https://blog.gymsource.com/author/michelle-willette) | Jan 4, 2016 10:29:24 PM

<https://blog.gymsource.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Cybex-Arc-Trainer-1.jpg>

Everyone knows that cardio workouts are great for your body: better heart health, increased metabolism, decreased risk of many diseases; the list goes on. But did you know that getting your sweat on can help sharpen your brain and make you feel better when you’re down? All the more reason to get up and get moving!

**Mood**  
Cardio workouts have long been known to cause the release of endorphins. Endorphins help to elevate your mood. Exercise is often viewed as a natural antidepressant. This is especially important during winter months when many people are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.

SAD is a form of depression that arises due to a lack of exposure to sunlight. Exercise is one of the best ways to combat these winter woes as it helps balance many of the chemicals connected to SAD. So if you’re feeling down, work up a sweat to brighten your day.

**Memory**  
Exercise is a fantastic way to improve and maintain memory. The British Journal of Sports Medicine published a study indicating that cardio workouts increase the size of the hippocampus, a part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. It’s especially instrumental in the storage of long-term memory.

**Focus**  
Cardio exercise also increases dopamine levels. Dopamine, a type of neurotransmitter, allows for communication between different parts of the brain. A study by Leeds Metropolitan University found that someone who engaged in cardiovascular exercise could finish the a set amount of work in 8 hours, but someone who did not exercise would need 9 hours 25 minutes. Next time you think about working late instead of hitting the treadmill – think again. Making time for workouts could help you be a better employee in the long run.

So if you’re looking for a way to give your brain a boost, break a sweat! When you’re ready to get moving without having to leave your home, come into a Gym Source store. We’ll help you find the perfect equipment to help get your brain boosted. We recommend a [TRUE Treadmill](http://www.gymsource.com/true-es900), [Cybex Arc Trainer](http://www.gymsource.com/770at-arc-trainer), or the [Schwinn Carbon Blue](http://www.gymsource.com/schwinn-ac-performance-plus-with-carbon-blue) indoor cycle to start.

Sources:  
Aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume in older women with probable mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial  
[http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2014/03/04/bjsports-2013-093184.abstract?sid=ecff0a48-d4fd-4a9d-b34a-156ca915a79e](http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2014/03/04/bjsports-2013-093184.abstract?sid=ecff0a48-d4fd-4a9d-b34a-156ca915a79e)

Mens Health online - The Genius of Cardio  
[http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/science-running-part-1](http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/science-running-part-1)

[View full post](https://blog.gymsource.com/need-a-mental-boost-cardio-workouts-are-great-for-your-mental-health)

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