Many people put their mental health and physical wellness into two separate categories. Physical health issues tend to get more attention than mental health issues because they’re often more obvious. However, both your physical and mental well-being are critical to your overall health. These two categories of wellness are also much more connected than most people realize.
If you want to obtain optimal health, it’s important to give your physical and mental wellness equal attention. You can do this by prioritizing daily movement and adopting a positive outlook on life. Here’s how regular movement and mindset work together to help you achieve better health.
Table of Contents
The Four Pillars of Health and Healing
Have you ever been bedridden or stuck in a hospital room during an illness or after a medical procedure? If so, you probably started to feel your mental health slip a bit. You might have experienced loneliness, depression, or anxiety caused (at least partially) by your declining physical health. On the flipside of that coin, when you’re suffering from poor mental health, it often becomes harder to take care of your body. The very thought of exercising or making yourself healthy meals might seem overwhelming.
These scenarios illustrate how integral physical wellness is to mental health, and vice versa. Focusing on one while neglecting the other is unwise and can render your pursuit of holistic wellness futile. You’re more likely to achieve your healthy living goals if you view regular movement and a positive mindset as two sides of the same coin. Let these four pillars of health and healing be your guide to achieving optimal wellness:
-
Mindset
Mindset is one of the most critical pillars for achieving health and healing. It refers to a personal set of attitudes and beliefs that shape how you feel and behave. It’s almost like a lens that affects how you view the world, yourself, and the challenges and opportunities in your path. Positive thinking has a physical impact on the body by supporting immune function and improving the body’s stress response. Negative thinking does just the opposite and can weaken the immune system and damage physical health.
When you apply a positive mindset to physical movement and improvement, it becomes much easier to meet your physical wellness goals. If you struggle to maintain a positive mindset, talking to a therapist may help. Therapy can help you identify psychological blocks that may prevent you from thinking positively. It can also provide tools to help you change your way of thinking and develop a more positive outlook on life.
-
Movement
Movement is the second pillar of health and healing. The human body is intrinsically designed for movement. It becomes stronger when it’s regularly engaged in physical activity and weaker when it’s consistently sedentary. All types of movement can benefit the body, from gentle walking to intense weight training. Regular movement helps the lymphatic and cardiovascular systems function properly.
Besides its physical benefits, regular movement also supports good mental health. It stimulates the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural mood enhancers. That’s why so many people refer to the euphoria they feel after intense physical activity as a “runner’s high.” If you need a quick mood boost, one of the best things you can do is engage in some sort of physical exertion.
-
Sleep
Sleep is one of the most crucial aspects of overall health, but it’s also one of the most neglected. Many people get fewer hours of quality sleep than their bodies and minds need to function optimally. Chronic sleep deprivation is often called the “silent killer” because it can increase your risk of health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Deep sleep is particularly important because it’s when your body repairs and restores itself.
Most adults require between seven and nine hours of quality sleep each night to adequately rest, recover, and recharge. If you struggle to get this many hours of shuteye, your physical and mental health will almost certainly suffer. To improve your sleep quantity and quality, always go to bed at the same time each night. Follow a calming bedtime routine to help your mind and body relax and drift off to sleep more easily. Consider playing quiet sleep music if you can’t turn your mind off at night, and make sure your bedroom is free from distractions.
-
Nutrition
What you choose to eat can have a powerful impact on your overall health. A healthy diet that prioritizes vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and other whole foods supports optimal physical and mental wellness. It provides the nutrients the mind and body need to function well and recover quickly.
On the other hand, a diet full of empty calories and devoid of nutrients can have a devastating effect on both your mental and physical wellness. Highly processed foods that are high in sugar and contain artificial ingredients stimulate systemic inflammation. They can slow down recovery and cause you to feel sluggish in both mind and body. Your efforts to fill your body with healthy fuel choices will pay off in the form of improved physical and mental function and stamina.
Conclusion
Physical health often claims an honored place in the forefront of people’s minds, while mental health gets pushed to the back burner. However, that’s not how things should be. If your goal is to look, feel, and perform your best, it’s crucial to pay equal attention to your physical and mental well-being. Use these tips to harness the power of both regular movement and a positive mindset to reach your healthy living goals.