Countless studies have already shown that there’s nothing but benefits to be derived from working out on a regular basis, from better health and an overall improved mood, to increased productivity and less stress. A new study comes now to show that, as far as the mood boosting abilities of physical exercise go, they are actually longer lasting than initially suspected, as a piece in USA Today informs.

Working out during the day can considerably alter one’s mood for the better for up to 12 hours, researchers have established after analyzing two groups of volunteer students. Speaking specifics, researchers at the University of Vermont divided the volunteers in two distinct groups: 24 students were asked to ride an exercise bike for roughly 20 minutes at moderate intensity, while another 24 did absolutely nothing for the same period of time. All of them were then asked to fill in questionnaires at regular intervals to evaluate their mood and how they felt in general, the publication informs.

Following the moderate workout (or lack thereof in the case of the latter group), each student was asked to evaluate their mood at set intervals: 1 hour, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours. The questions also touched upon such issues as perceivable tension, fatigue, depression, confusion and vigor – even 12 hours after working out, the volunteers in the first group were in higher spirits than those who did not exercise at all. Oppositely, 24 hours later, there was no difference in mood between the members of the two groups.

“There are other studies that show there is acute improvement in mood after exercise, but we found those improvements are more durable than we thought.” Jeremy Sibold, an assistant professor at the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science from the University of Vermont, says for USA Today. These findings of the study are all the more important in the cases of those who suffer from depression or acute stress. “Daily exercise can improve your mood and mitigate some of the stressors of your day. It’s clear that exercise is critical for both physical health and mental health.” Sibold explains.

The study was presented recently at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine – further research aims to show exactly what needs to be done to ensure the mood boosting effects of working out last as much as possible.