Exercise: Mental health's "apple"
Emma Pinn
The mental health equivalent to medicine's, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" could translate to something like, "Exercise each day keeps psychological problems away". It might sound a bit naff, but the benefits of exercise for mental health are well supported by empirical evidence.
Exercise releases endorphins ('feel-good' hormones), helps clear our minds, improves sleep, makes us feel better about ourselves, and has been shown to ameliorate depression. Research presented by the Black Dog Institute suggests that exercising for 30 minutes, 6 days a week, can be as effective as mild anti-depressant medication. Don't believe me? Try it. Exercise 6 days out and 7 at a moderate intensity (i.e. sweating and getting your heart rate up), and then rate your mood at the end of that week on a scale from 0 to 8. Then have a typical week (i.e. without exercising nearly everyday) and rate your mood again.
If you're finding it hard to motivate yourself to exercise at all, modify your exercise goals to make them achievable. Exercise, even if it's only very gentle and for short periods, is better than avoiding it all together.