5 Life-Changing Benefits of Going to the Gym (and Actually Working Out)

We're coming to the close of the first month of the year, and some are successful to have maintained their New Year's resolution of hitting the gym regularly every week. For those who haven't even thought about going to the gym since the holidays (or ever, at all), here are five reasons that may make you reconsider.

1. It boosts your brain health and makes you feel better. Accomplishing 20 minutes on a stationary bicycle or finishing a number of lifts can not only make you feel accomplished, it can help release endorphins into the body. According to Huffington Post, studies suggest that exercise can help boost cognitive function and even enhance memory.

2. It helps lower blood pressure. Livestrong reports that regular exercise strengthens the heart—which is the muscle in the body that works 24/7—and enables it to pump blood throughout the body more efficiently and with less strain. As per the CDC, a 30 minute exercise at the gym five times a week also helps lower a person's risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke, so you're basically doing your heart a favor when you work out.

3. It helps your endurance. Feeling tired from simple tasks such as cleaning the house or carrying groceries? You may be in need of an energy boost. Mayo Clinic reports that regular exercise helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body and helps the cardiovascular system work more efficiently, thereby giving you more energy to do your day to day activities.

4. It revitalizes your cells. While some men and women like to nourish from the outside, exercise nourishes and revitalizes from the inside, Women's Health & Fitness reports. Physical activity gets your heart rate up, which means the skin also gets oxygenated blood that boosts detoxification and cell renewal. According to dermatologist Ellen Marmur, "We tend to focus on the cardiovascular benefits of physical activity, and those are important. But anything that promotes healthy circulation also helps keep your skin healthy and vibrant."

5. It will improve sleep quality. Lack of sleep and lowered sleep quality can affect one's overall health. Going to the gym to get a workout in can help improve sleep quality. In fact, Huffington Post reports that even a simple brisk walk or bike ride can help improve sleep quality in women, as found in a study. Better sleep also means better overall health, and that combined with a regular exercise routine makes for a better you.