While fixing motorcycles can improve your mental health, there’s something to be said about riding a motorcycle. The wind in your face, going incredibly fast, and being completely alert can be really good for your mood.
We’ll go over the benefits of riding motorcycles, and how it can help with your mental health, especially if you’ve been struggling to relax.
Decreases Stress Hormones
Stress hormones include cortisol and other inflammatory hormones that make you feel on edge, anxious, and raise your blood pressure. It also can affect your breathing.
Usually, when you’re stressed, your body creates an inflammatory response, and this creates a problem. You might feel more on edge, and you might lash out, or feel really worried and overthink what’s going on.
Riding a motorcycle though can help with this. It can cause your body to produce less of the stress hormones, and more of the good, including serotonin, which is a happy hormone. This can offset depression and anxiety, or even relieve symptoms of schizophrenia, so if you feel you’re at risk for that, or just feeling down, a nice ride can be good.
Endorphin Boost
Another reason to ride motorcycles is endorphins. Motorcycle riding is an activity that carries some risk, but you know what you’re doing, you’ll have a wonderful time with it. In addition, it can boost good hormones in the body, including endorphins. This helps heighten your brain activity, make you feel good and happy, and takes the stress and worry out of your life. It is great for your mental health, as long as you’re aware when doing it.
Boost Awareness
When you ride a motorcycle, you need to be fully aware of what’s going on. A motorcycle requires more of your bodily awareness than a car does. The alertness required has been suggested to prevent conditions including Alzheimer’s and other cognitive decline conditions. It can help stimulate your brain naturally. When you have stimulated brain activity, it increases the blood flow and heart rate, improving your mental health, and also helping you stay alert and aware of everything that’s going on. The increase in brain activity can also help stave off depression and anxiety.
Mindfulness for Driving
While driving, mindfulness is when you’re present in the moment, and your mind is only focused on what’s going on. This is when you’re totally present in the exact moment of time, to improve your focus and to reduce your anxiety. Motorcycle riding keeps you in the moment and it’s really good for helping to keep negative or unwanted thoughts away. It keeps you grounded and relaxed, allowing you to properly maneuver your motorcycle.
Social Escape
Riding a motorcycle is a great way to escape the problems of typical day to day life. When you are on the road, you do not have to worry about stressors and other problems that you may be facing. Many riders also join clubs where they can interact with other motorcycle enthusiasts. Social interaction is beneficial to mood and wellbeing. It can also release feel good chemicals in the brain. Finally, this can offer a support system that we can use to help us through life’s difficult struggles including problems concerning mental health.
Boost Cognitive Function
Studies indicate that riding a motorcycle can boost cognitive function. The science behind this phenomenon is not fully understand, but it likely has something to do with the increase in neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. In fact, the effect on cognition could be substantial and improve the brain function by as much as 50 percent.
Improve Core Strength
Riding a motorcycle uses a lot of different muscles throughout the body, primarily in the core. When motorcycles get done with a long ride, especially if they are new to riding, they often feel aches and pains in the core and lower back areas. However, as long as your motorcycle properly fits your body type, this can be beneficial by strengthening the muscles.
This can help to prevent injury in the future as well. While this doesn’t necessarily make you feel good directly, strengthening your body can prevent you from feeling bad and exercise in general is great for boosting mental health and well-being.
Improve Neck Strength
Riding a motorcycle can also improve the strength in neck muscles. Having a helmet on (yes you should always wear a helmet!) means that your neck has to support more weight as you keep your eyes on the road. In addition, if you ride without a windshield the wind will blow at high speeds and you will have to use the neck muscles to keep your head straight.
Improve Leg Strength
It takes leg work to turn and guide a motorcycle. This can strengthen your leg muscles which can be highly beneficial for both physical and mental health. Legs are one of the parts of the body that is most likely to wear down as we age and keeping your legs strong mean that you may be more mentally and physically fit for longer.
Hobbies are Important
Hobbies are important for life satisfaction and happiness. Having a hobby that you are truly passionate about can improve your mood, help you relax in times of high stress, and provide you with a fulfilling and healthy reason to live. Riding motorcycles is a healthy, fun hobby that can be highly beneficial just because it provides you with something to do and be interested in.
Gain Perspective
Riding a motorcycle means going to new places. Not only can this be fun and entertaining, but it can also provide you with a new perspective on things. You may learn about new cultures or find a different way to view your role in the world. This could also help you see your troubles as less significant by giving you insight into the lives of other people.
Conclusion
Riding a motorcycle can allow you to see the world through a new lens and provide you with a sense of freedom that may be lacking otherwise. It can also provide you with a way to connect to other people and places. Not only that, but it can be highly relaxing and beneficial for your overall physical and mental health. If reading this doesn’t make you want to hop on your bike and go for a ride, I don’t know what will!