Have a hard time focusing at work? Want to boost your productivity and cognition? Exercise can help! We're not talking about brain exercises, but about intense, heart-pounding workouts.

According to researchers, physical activity causes positive changes in the brain. Over time, it improves memory and learning skills, slows cognitive decline, and boosts mental performance. Hitting the gym more often benefits both your mind and body.

How Does Exercise Influence Brain Function?
The mental benefits of exercise are backed up by science. Working out can make you smarter and improve your productivity at work. Moreover, it prevents damage to the brain and wards off depression. It's your best defense against Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, dementia, and memory disorders.

Evidence shows that exercise improves memory and increases the size of the hippocampus. As you age, this brain area shrinks, leading to mental diseases and poor memory. According to science, physically active adults have larger hippocampal and medial temporal lobes.

Fortunately, it's never too late to reap the mental benefits of exercise. In a study conducted on 120 adults, those who started a workout program experienced a two percent increase in hippocampal volume within one year. This shows that exercise can modify the hippocampus in late adulthood.
Aerobic exercise appears to be the most beneficial. Due to its ability to increase the size of the hippocampus, it leads to improved cognition and memory. This may help reduce your risk of age-related mental disorders, such as dementia. Studies conducted over the years have shown that employees who work out regularly are more productive and resilient to stress.

The Mental Benefits of Exercise
Exercise improves brain health in more than one way. First of all, it stimulates the release of cathepsin B, a protein that triggers neuron growth. This results in better mental performance.

Secondly, exercise improves attention span and concentration. In a study, children who engaged in aerobic activities daily for 12 months became more efficient at multitasking, ignoring distractions, and processing information.

Physical activity also supports mental health. Aerobic exercise, for instance, raises endorphin levels in the brain. These chemicals improve your body's ability to cope with stress and lift your mood. For this reason, they're often referred to as "the happiness hormones."

Certain activities, such as yoga, lower the stress hormone cortisol levels and turn on the body's relaxation response. This helps reduce inflammation in the brain, improves glycemic control, and improves energy metabolism.
Both cardio and strength training have proven effective in treating depression and anxiety symptoms. Some types of exercise work just as well as antidepressants but without the side effects.

In the long run, physical activity can boost your creativity and problem-solving skills. Moreover, it reverses the mental signs of aging, such as memory lapses.

Just 20 minutes of exercise a day are enough to keep your brain sharp until late in life. This simple habit protects your brain from damage, increases growth factors, and supports the formation of new neuronal connections. You'll not only focus better at work but also have greater energy and feel less fatigued.

So, what are you waiting for? No matter how tired you are, you’ll feel like new after a short bout of exercise. Start today – working out pays off in the long run!

Summary

• Regular exercise increases the brain areas linked to memory, cognition, and creativity. 
• It also improves the brain’s relaxation response and offsets the effects the stress. 
• Just 20 minutes of exercise a day can boost brainpower and prevent cognitive decline. 
• Anyone, regardless of age, can reap the mental benefits of exercise.