Practicing physical activity regularly can significantly improve your psychophysical well-being, helping to prevent illness, maintain health, and manage stress, mood, anxiety, and depression.

The benefits of sport on mental well-being are many.
Today, we clearly know that physical activity:

• Increases the production of serotonin, noradrenaline, and adrenaline and promotes the release of endorphins, reducing stress and improving mood;
  
  
• Enhances attention, self-control, and problem-solving skills, while improving body awareness. This is because activating certain substances allows the brain to function more effectively. For example, in people experiencing low mood, attention and concentration often decline;
  
  
• Improves sleep—if done at least two hours before bedtime—by helping release tension and quiet the mind;
  
  
• Allows time outdoors, helping shift focus away from worries;
  
  
• Promotes cognitive development, creativity, and concentration, as it involves setting goals—achieving them builds self-esteem, confidence, and personal validation;
  
  
• Boosts resilience, empathy, and social skills when practiced in a team environment.
  
  

Mental Health: Team Sport or Individual Activity?

Team sports offer numerous benefits—not only do they promote socialization and personal challenge, but they also help overcome difficulties related to judgment or introversion.
Achieving shared goals with others reinforces a sense of belonging and functional purpose, enhancing well-being without overexertion.

Group physical activity, led by a coach, can be especially helpful in addressing psychological challenges.

However, it is essential to be mindful of sport addiction, a risk often amplified by societal pressures. The signs of this addiction mirror those of other dependencies:

• Anxiety when missing a workout
  
  
• Obsessive control over activity
  
  
• Difficulty focusing on other aspects of life
  
  
• Persistent thoughts about training
  
  
• A constant drive to push one’s limits
  
  

It’s crucial to rest when needed and seek support when sport becomes all-consuming.

Sport and Psychological Disorders: When Is It Recommended?

Physical activity is always recommended, especially as support for mood disorders and “cognitive fog”, a symptom widely reported post-COVID but also associated with poor sleep quality.

Many patients with mild mood disorders report waking up tired, foggy, or unfocused. In these cases, a **morning walk—or even better, a brisk walk in sunlight—**can help reactivate both body and mind.

The Mind–Body Connection in Performance

The relationship between psychological well-being and sports performance is bidirectional.
Having self-efficacy—defined as the awareness of one’s abilities and confidence in achieving goals—as well as trust in one’s potential, are crucial cognitive and emotional tools. They influence performance directly and help manage the stress tied to it.

At the last Olympic Games, there was widespread discussion about the tears of Benedetta Pilato, the 19-year-old swimmer who finished fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke. Speaking about her tears after the race, she said she was happy with the result.

This reflects healthy self-efficacy, self-awareness, and gratification through commitment and sacrifice, including from a psychological perspective.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Pilato had been disqualified for an irregular movement. Yet her story is a testament to resilience: she processed the disappointment, accepted the judgment, set new goals, trained both physically and mentally, and achieved a remarkable result—all at just 19 years old.

Final Thoughts

Sport should be your ally in feeling better—not just a goal, a win, or a competition.
When identity becomes tied only to results, failing to meet them can lead to a sense of personal failure.

Reflecting on what drives your goals, and sharing those reflections with friends, instructors, or family, can help restore balance.
Fortunately, even some of the world’s top athletes are breaking the taboo—not just on mental well-being, but on acknowledging mental illness itself.