This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Winthrop chapter.

The human body is amazing.

The fact that we’re able to grow, develop, and repair ourselves after injury is an ability that never ceases to amaze me. Our bodies withstand stress, pressure, fatigue, and so much more, yet somehow we’re still able to keep chugging along.

While the body has countless mechanisms with which it is able to keep itself in check, the way we treat our bodies has an enormous impact of how we function, how we grow, and most importantly, how we feel both mentally and physically.

One of the biggest ways in which we are able to reward our bodies and provide it with the necessary means to succeed is through exercise.

Exercise, by definition, is “bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health.” (Dictionary.com)

While this definition does a good job to summarize the general idea, exercise is SO much more than this. Exercise is finding an activity that you enjoy, an activity you may even love, that makes you feel good about the skin you’re in.

Exercise is a way to push yourself, a way to test your limits, and above all else a way to truly experience what you as a person are capable of. While the majority of people exercise for fitness and weight loss, which is totally understandable and admirable as well, exercising has a world of benefits that are far too often overlooked.

1. Exercising increases your energy levels –

People tend to think that exercise wears you out and makes you tired, and yes it definitely can. But in all actuality, regular exercise is an amazing way to increase your energy levels and boost your productivity.

2. It can clear up your skin –

Exercise is a great way to increase your body’s natural production of antioxidants which in turn contribute to the overall appearance and health of your skin.

3. Exercise boost memory and brain activity –

One of the biggest benefits of exercise is that it increase blood flow throughout the body in addition to increasing the secretion of hormones throughout the body. Both oxygenated blood and hormone balance play a large role in effective brain stimulation and memory function.

4. Exercise reduces stress levels –

Exercise promotes changes in the parts of the brain that control stress hormones. Increasing regular exercise subsequently decreases the amount of stress hormones released into the blood stream.

5. Exercise makes you happier –

In addition to reducing stress levels, exercise simply makes you feel happier. Regular exercise has been shown to increase the bodies sensitivity to hormones such as serotonin and norepinephrine which prove to reduce feelings of depression. Additionally, exercise stimulates the release of endorphins that also serve to boost your mood.

All in all, exercise has a world of benefits that can affect almost every aspect of your life. My challenge to you, Collegiettes, is to get up, get moving, and get out there.

Whether you take a walk on your lunch break, hit the gym after class, or sign up for a yoga class on your day off, your body, your mind, and your well-being will thank you.

5 Reasons to Exercise That Don’t Include Losing Weight