Jog On summary

What does anxiety feel like? If you haven’t experienced it yourself, you might think you have a pretty good idea. When Bella told people about her mental health issues, they would often say, “I totally get it, I’m a worrier too!” These people meant well, but they actually had little understanding of how debilitating anxiety can be. 

The key message here is: as Bella found out, anxiety disorders are serious illnesses with both mental and physical symptoms.

Let’s get back to Bella’s story. By the time her marriage ended, Bella was suffocating in her narrow cage of anxiety. She had no confidence, no independence, and now she had no husband. It seemed like things couldn’t get much worse. But there was a silver lining: the breakup was painful, but it also made her reevaluate her life. 

The key message in this blink is: Bella decided to stop running away from her problems, and just run instead. 

Now, six years after her divorce, Bella runs for at least an hour every morning. This might sound like a chore, but Bella firmly believes that this simple exercise routine has saved her life. Not only have her panic attacks disappeared, but she’s also happier and more confident. She’s even gotten married again. 

When she talks about how jogging changed her life, some people are cynical. Some say she might have gotten better regardless. But science suggests that exercise does have a real and beneficial impact on mental health. 

Any amount of exercise is good for your health, whether you’re putting in miles on a treadmill or running around the block. But to maximize the benefits of working up a sweat, try to step outside your everyday surroundings, and head to a more natural setting instead. 

The key message here is: exercising in nature gives your mental health an extra boost – something Bella personally experienced. 

Since beginning her exercise journey, Bella has spoken to many people for whom running has made a big difference – like Sara, a young mother who found that jogging eased her postnatal depression. Sara had been self-harming to try to feel something again after giving birth. But running gave Sara a healthier way to do this. These days, the only pain Sara inflicts on herself involves jogging on an icy winter’s day or embracing the burn after an intense exercise session. To her, running is worth it. 

Bella and Sara’s stories are inspirational, but they also raise a troubling question: If running is so great, then why aren’t more of us doing it?