Strength training creates a much-needed distraction

When you run, you might find yourself thinking about all kinds of things, but when you strength train, you have to concentrate on what you’re doing because distraction can lead to injuries. Your mind is therefore fully engaged in the workout – freeing it of anxieties or thoughts that might be contributing to feeling distress. That forced focus is great both while you’re moving and after, as it helps to build that mental muscle too.

Strength training is energy boosting

You might feel knackered after a strength training session but training can improve your sleep quality. Studies have shown that as little as 20 minutes of exercise a day can help us to drift off into a deeper sleep. Strength training in particular has been found to play a stabilising role when it comes to vital bodily functions such as resting glucose metabolism, blood pressure and metabolic rate. All of these contribute to physical stress reduction and a better quality of sleep. There’s also evidence to suggest that lifting weights can help you to fall asleep faster and stay in a deeper sleep for longer. The better you sleep, the more energy you’ll have while awake – and more energy contributes to better mood.

Social sport is good for us

Whether you lift at a gym or work out at home, there’s a big social element to training that shouldn’t be underestimated. Social interaction and inclusiveness is integral to maintaining good mental health and being a member of a club is a sure-fire way of turning a passing interest into a long-term commitment. In the Strong Women Training Club, you’ll be connected to lots of women exactly like you who are chasing down similar goals, with opportunities to interact with other members and trainers on a regular basis.

Strength training improves brain function

A study by the University of Sydney found that six months of strength training can help to protect areas of the brain from dementia. Participants (all of whom were older and at risk of Alzheimer’s) were randomly allocated to do computerised brain training, strength training or a combination of the two for six months. A year later, researchers found that strength training had led to overall cognitive benefits in the hippocampus part of the brain, which is responsible for memory and learning. The hippocampal subregions in those people who sat at the computer had shrunk by up to 4% over the 18-month period, while there was no shrinkage at all in some areas for those who had done weight lifting. You may not be at risk of dementia at the moment, but it’s worth brain training now to give yourself the best chance later on in life.

Benefits of lifting weights: 8 ways strength training improves mental health