It is becoming more and more apparent that the connection between mind and body is of greater significance than first believed. In the past, mental health and physical health have been considered quite separate concerns. However, research from the past few decades is demonstrating that, to maintain good mental health, you must also take good care of your body. Take a look at some of the ways that you can boost your mood and relieve stress by focusing on your physical health.
How Is Mood Controlled by the Body?
The brain is still barely understood by science, and the mysteries it holds seem almost impossible to unlock. Some people believe that a person’s personality and spirit reside in the brain and that the body is merely a complex tool to serve it. More people, including researchers, are coming around to the idea that, due to the vast quantity of intertwined connections between body and mind, you cannot separate one from the other. This implies that the body is as much a part of someone’s personality as their brain. Since the brain is in control of the rest of the bodily systems, it makes sense that the distinction is not so clear.
How Can Mood Impact Physical Health?
How a person feels in their mind can also influence their physical well-being. The two feed into each other in unexpected ways. For example, having depression can make it much harder to go out and perform physical exercise. Similarly, exercise can help combat mental illness. If you feel unmotivated to make healthy decisions, your body will be the first to notice. When creating your health-focused routines, it can be helpful to know that there is more than one angle from which to approach a problem.
Manage Your Illnesses Properly
Physical illnesses and medical conditions impact a person’s mental well-being just as much as their physical health. If you have an ongoing illness, learning how to cope with it properly can make a huge difference not only by alleviating physical symptoms but also by reducing your stress. Having a chronic condition, such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis, can bring a lot of uncertainty and anxiety into life, especially when the illness is complicated to manage. By staying on top of it with the appropriate medications and treatments, you can boost both your mood and your health.
Relieve Digestive Discomfort
The health of your gut has a lot to do with the health of your mind. What you eat plays a big role in your mood due to the chemicals contained in food and processed by the body. If you suffer from digestive discomfort, this can cause distress and the inability to concentrate on your priorities. A digestive enzyme after your meal can help to relieve the feeling of being bloated caused by a build-up of gas. You can help your metabolism, and in turn, help your mood. Studies have suggested that the types of foods a person eats can influence their emotions. For example, being lethargic and unmotivated is sometimes a result of a lack of proper nutrition.
Take Care of Your Skin
Being considerate of your skin can help with your self-esteem. Despite best efforts, humans can’t help but have a first impression of a person based on their outward appearance. This is why feeling good about how you look can make you happier. Embracing your appearance is easiest when you put in the effort to keep your body as healthy as you can. This includes protecting your skin from all the ways it can be damaged. Keeping your skin clean and nourished will make you feel more prepared to face the world and make positive first impressions wherever you go.
Look After Your Heart
A healthy heart can be difficult to maintain if you have ongoing trouble with anxiety. When you are anxious, your body responds as if there is a threat. This includes shorter breaths and a faster heart rate. Over time, this increased heart rate can cause high blood pressure and a weakening of the heart and chest muscles. By targeting your anxiety through treatments and meditation, you can soothe your heart and stay in control whenever you feel anxiety taking over. If you experience any tension, tightness, or pain, contact your doctor for professional advice.
Breathe Fresh Air
Polluted air is everywhere these days. Making time to visit nature and breathe in the fresh air can help to ground you both physically and mentally. To enjoy healthier air at home, learn how to monitor your air quality. To adjust it for your needs, you might need to invest in a humidifier or a dehumidifier, depending on the local climate. Of course, there is hardly anything better for the body and the soul than taking a walk in the grass and reminding yourself how nourishing the natural environment can be.
Enjoy the Sunshine
Sunlight has been proven to boost people’s moods. In parts of the world that experience more darkness, there is more chance of people suffering from seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD. To prevent this, you can use a sunlight lamp to imitate the warmth and brightness of the sunshine, so that your body is tricked into generating the same happy chemicals that it creates when exposed to sunlight. If you want to enjoy the real thing, make sure to protect your skin with sunscreen and shield your eyes from the potential damage of UV rays.
Make Sleep a Priority
Sleep is a natural state of rest that is essential for both physical and mental health. During sleep, your body is able to repair and restore itself, while your mind processes and stores information from the day. It is important to get the good sleep for your age in order to maintain good health. Sleep and its powers are still something of a mystery to researchers. What they do know is that getting between six and nine hours of deep, quality sleep can significantly improve a person’s mood and overall well-being. Make sure to make good sleep one of your top priorities to enjoy all the surprising benefits it has to offer.
There are plenty of ways to use techniques for physical improvement to restore good mental wellbeing. By understanding the various connections between the body and the mind, you can create a healthier routine for yourself that promotes positivity and personal growth.
