It’s not Me who is claiming it, but a recent (Yale and Oxford) study revealed that Your Mental Health is more important than your Economic Status. It makes you happier to be Mentally fit than a wealthier person, but it is not ideal in every situation. The study was based on, how many days a person felt in last 30 days e.g. due to stress, depression and emotional problems. It was also founded that there are certain sports which include socializing can have even better effect on your mood. The study shows that three to five times a week for 30 minutes to 60 minutes will have a significant and ideal.
During exercise there is a chemical named Endorphin which releases from your body and these endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain and makes your happier. It also helps you decrease your depression and bring positive feeling in your body. Regular exercise has a lot of benefits as mentioned; Reduce Stress, Boost Self-Esteem, Improve Sleep and it also improve your heart health, energy level, lower blood pressure, reduce body-fat last but not the least it makes you look fit and healthy.
I have been doing exercise for last fifteen years and somehow involved in a physical activity since my childhood. I prefer outdoor activities/exercise, but it does not really matter as long as you are working out. How to start with your routine, remember you have to be consistent in your life to make it a lifestyle. If you are following a routine for at least six months, the probability will be high that it will become your lifestyle. You might get bored after following a same routine, so CHANGE is the word, keep changing your exercises and in-fact you can change your routine or timings as well. E.g. Every day I follow same exercise routine I get bored after a few days so bring variation into your routine. It is not necessary that you have to do exercise daily, take a break and eat whatever you want to eat. You don’t need to stick with a healthy diet there is always room for a Cheat Meal.
Never compromise if you feel pain during exercise, immediately contact your doctor and do not continue unless you are feeling good. Because a little pain can have a greater effect on your body, and this may lead to a higher risk.
In a nutshell, if you want to be a happier/healthier person focus on your health and keep yourself happier. Economic status is important but not primary thing to focus, in-fact mental health has no substitute in term of replacement of happiness. If you have Health, then you have everything but if you don’t have a good health then you would not be able to do things you want to do. Health is a blessing.