The Mind+Body Connection

If you are feeling down in the dumps, it may be time to assess yourself both mentally and physically. Typically, people who take care of themselves physically tend to have better general mental health.  So often when we are stressed, we are also not at our best physically because we are not eating right, working out, or getting enough sleep.  We cannot ignore these physical systems if we think we are going to get better mentally!  There is a definite connection between the mind and the body.  It is important to invest time in yourself and to take care of yourself physically.  Three areas to focus on regarding the Mind+Body Connection include:

• Exercise:  Exercise improves general mental health and well-being.  It can also help with weight management and sleep patterns.  Most doctors recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise a day and it can be as simple as going for a walk.  If you are not use to exercise, start a program slowly so that you can gradually build up your endurance and strength.  
• Sleep:  Poor sleep reduces our ability to function appropriately throughout the day.  Adults should target to get around 8 hours of sleep a night and should attempt the same sleep schedule daily.  Your body likes a "regular" sleep and rise time so that your sleep cycle can remain consistent.
• Healthy Eating:  Healthy eating can be tough to accomplish with so many available and quick unhealthy choices.  Healthy foods can improve your health, manage weight, and help elevate your mood. 

If you are struggling with exercise, sleep, and eating habits you may want to consider keeping a daily journal. In order to become more mindful of your habits, it is important to write them down so that you can analyze where you can make some improvements.  Keep a daily record for one week of your meals, exercise, and sleep patterns.  After the initial week, review your record to see where you can make tweaks to create an improvement in your habits.  Then make a plan and commit to that plan, start with a few changes that you know you can make!  Keep recording your habits so that you can see whether or not you are accomplishing your goals.  Small successes can lead to larger gains both physically and mentally.

*As always, before you start any new program (whether it is for exercise or eating plans) it is best to consult with your physician first.  

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