Pillars of Mental Health: Physical Activity
While today’s topic might be a bit of a given, your physical health can play a very large role in your mental health as well. Studies have proven that your mood directly correlates with the amount of time you spend outside, and that exercise in general releases endorphins that improve your mood. There is no doubt that staying active can help combat anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues!
It is very easy for us to get caught up with work and stay stagnant, because let’s be real: you don’t really enjoy reading your email or answering the phone while on the treadmill! However, physical activity doesn’t need to be strenuous to be effective. The goal is to find a routine that works for you, and that you enjoy doing. Some people enjoy lifting weights, others enjoy throwing a ball back and forth. We took time to speak with our DEI’s very own Health and Wellness ERG to find out more ways we can get ourselves up and at ‘em!
INVOLVE A FRIEND If you are looking to get up and get out, having a friend join in will make it even better! Use this opportunity to socialize with a close friend or a coworker. You can find a gym that you both want to join, a park to picnic at, or a time to take a break at work and walk. But no matter what you choose, knowing you have a friend with you there the whole time can make a huge difference in keeping up with that routine. While getting outside or exercising improves mood, it can then improve your relationships. Not only will the time you spend together with your friends bring you closer, but so will the endorphins that exercise helps you release.
2. CREATE AN ERGONOMIC WORKSTATION Sure, not all of us can have treadmills at our desks. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make our time at the office inefficient when it comes to working our physical health! Make sure that your desk is an appropriate height, along with your chair to ensure that you are comfortable where you are sitting. An uncomfortable position for too long can make for sore muscles and headaches. If your chair cannot be changed and causes back pain, try placing a pillow behind you. If you are really feeling jazzy, purchase a monitor stand you can adjust to a standing position. If you aren’t feeling jazzy, even making sure that you have appropriate padding around your arms and wrists on your desk and chair arms can go such a long way when it comes to physical comfort. After an 8+ hour work day, who doesn’t want to stay comfortable?
3. FIND MOTIVATION AND BUILD A ROUTINE Start everyday with the purpose and intention of taking physical care of your body. Maybe that includes working out, drinking a glass of water, or making your bed, anything to say that you are going to do something that feels good physically. Along with this, build your schedule around the times you are dedicating to your self-care. The days can get hectic and somewhat sporadic, but a calendar system can help you set time aside for yourself and yourself only. Find the motivation to do this from within, or even have a friend give you a pep talk when you need it!
All in all, while beginning a journey with physical health can seem daunting, it truly can be very easy when we just try what speaks to us and our habits. Let’s all try and take the rest of this month, and month’s going forward, to work this self-care into our routines! Stay tuned to learn more about the final pillar of mental health next week!
