We all know the physical benefits of boxing, but this blog will go into boxing for mental health.
NOTE: This is for information only. For help with mental health conditions, please contact your trusted health provider.
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Why Boxing is Good for Mental Health
Boxing is a highly physical and mentally demanding.
Whether you plan on stepping in the ring or just getting health with a punching bag workout for weight loss, boxing can help individuals develop a range of mental skills and qualities.
Boxing Benefits for Mental Health
Boxing for Stress Relief:
Everyone faces stress throughout their lives. Oftentimes people can struggle on the best way to deal with this stress. Unfortunately, many people keep this stress bottled up without a way to release it.
While all exercise can help with stress relief, boxing has a few added benefits.
Hitting a punching bag as hard as you can, or even just a beginner shadow boxing workout, allows everyone a simple outlet to release the stress.
After only a few minutes of punching a bag, you start to feel the stress leave your body. Your mind start to focus on the task at hand and feel the physical benefits as well.
Discipline Needed for Boxing:
Boxing requires discipline in order to train consistently, adhere to strict weight control, and follow the rules of the sport.
Even if you don’t plan on boxing a real opponent, having the discipline to exercise everyday trains the mind to focus on completing a task.
One of the biggest benefits of a boxing workout at home is it is a fun and simple way to exercise (which in return keeps you motivated to do it daily!)
Develop Focus through Boxing:
Boxing demands focus and concentration in order to deliver accurate punches, defend against attacks, and anticipate your opponent’s moves.
In today’s society, our minds are focused on 1,000 different things. It is almost impossible to NOT have ADHD!
Allowing your brain to focus on 1 thing, such as making sure you are properly hitting a punching bag, gives the mind a task to complete.
When you are hyper focused on 1 thing, it allows all the other worries and stresses in your life to fade away.
Build Confidence with Boxing:
Success while training and in the ring can boost an individual’s confidence and self-esteem, as they learn to trust in their abilities and overcome challenges. Confidence is important during every stage of life and it is even said confidence is the key to success in life and your career.
One of the biggest struggles a lot of people have in their life is a lack of self-confidence. Often times people are too unsure of themselves to ask that cute person on a date, speak up in a work meeting or stand-up for themselves.
Boxing not only gives you the confidence to defend yourself physically but also gives you the ability to stand up for yourself in all situations.
Once you put your mind to a task and accomplish it, the next time you have a task to complete, it becomes easier and easier.
Of course, having the confidence to throw a solid left hook makes you feel pretty bad ass as well…
Resilience:
Boxing can help individuals develop mental toughness and resilience, as they learn to bounce back from setbacks and defeats.
I have been told “When times get tough, the tough get going” However, these days, when times get tough, too often people just quit.
Any little obstacle is enough to deter people from reaching their goals.
Boxing builds a mental and physical toughness that spills over into all aspects of life.
Problem-solving:
Boxing requires quick thinking and problem-solving skills, as fighters must adapt to changing circumstances and come up with strategies on the fly.
Ask an entrepreneur, they will tell you “If you want to make more money, learn to solver bigger problems”
If someone wants to eat a hamburger, since there are 100s of affordable options in every city, you won’t make a lot of money helping people solve that problem.
However, if a local burger shop needs more customers, they might be willing to pay a lot of money for that to keep their business going.
Of course, the 2nd problem is a bigger problem to solve, which is why it would pay more money if you could solve that problem.
Learning the basics of boxing will teach you problem solving skills, how to think quickly and how to think outside of the box.
Not to mention, when your mind is clear as you are 100% focused on punching the bag, you may be suprised what other problems in your life you are able to think of solutions to.
Seeing Results: When you learn and master some basic boxing tips for beginners, you will start to quickly see results. Even if you don’t notice immediate weight loss or the ability to win a fight…
You will discover that you are able to throw stronger punches.
You are able to start throwing combinations of punches.
Your endurance and your stamina will go up.
You will start to have more energy, sleep better and be more excited about life.
Overall, the mental demands of boxing can help individuals develop strong mental skills that can benefit them in other areas of their lives.
Getting Started Boxing for Mental Health
Getting started is simple.
You only need a few pieces of equipment and you can start boxing as soon as tomorrow!