How staying active can provide both physical and mental benefits, without even realising.

This month is Active for April, where people are encouraged to do something active every day of the thirty. But apart from the physical benefits that this can bring, it can also help with mental health, clearing your mind, and allowing your mood to brighten in many ways, especially within the blossoming spring.

Doing any sort of exercise releases feel-good hormones that can contribute to mental wellbeing, including being able to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as support you through difficult times, in being able to focus on something other than what may seem like a major impasse in life. Doesn't matter what you do, being active supports you through daily life, and helps you be more relaxed and energised for whatever you need to face.

You don't even have to commit to anything like a gym or football club, which is what most people would associate with an active lifestyle. It can be something as simple as walking, as even if it's seen as a way of just getting from A to B, however there can be many hidden benefits behind it, even if only for short amounts each day. Regular daily exercise can support energy output, with natural boosts helping you to be able to move on with your day. It also keeps you more focused, as it allows you to take a break from your day to relax, and re-organise itself. You can also spend time with others, or play music in headphones, being able to have fun at the same time and not see it as a chore.

So while you might be able to commit to something as often as a club or activity, doing simple things daily like walking your dog, jogging around the block or cycling to your mates house, can provide you with mental benefits that you can have support you through all parts of life, in the highest and the lowest. So go outside, even if just for a few minutes, get moving and enjoy nature.