Exercise Makes You Happier Than Money, Oxford Says

Exercise has health benefits both physical and mental, but did you know that being involved in sporting activities has better effects on your mental health than money?. According to a study from researchers at Yale and Oxford that may be true.

In the study, published in The Lancet, scientists collected data about the physical behaviour and mental health of more than 1.2 million Americans.

The participants were also asked about their income and activities. They were able to choose from 75 types of physical activity from cooking, taking care of children, and studying to weight lifting, cycling, and running.

The scientists came up with the conclusion that while those who exercise regularly tended to feel bad for 35 days a year, nonactive participants felt bad for 18 days more, on average.

In addition, the researchers found that physically active people feel just as good as those who don't do sports but who earn thousands of dollars per year.

However that doesn't involve overtraining yourself, "The relationship between sport duration and mental load is U-shaped," said study author Adam Chekroud of Yale University in an interview with Die Welt. The study found that physical activity contributes to better mental well-being only when it falls within a certain time frame.

According to the study, three to five training sessions, each lasting between 30 to 60 minutes, are ideal per week. The mental health of those participants who exercised for longer than three hours a day suffered more than that of those who weren't particularly physically active.