If you want to take care of both your mental and physical health, there are some things you should be doing every day. Getting into these habits will help you to ensure your whole health and wellbeing. it’s important to remember that taking care of your mental health often means taking care of your physical health, and vice versa. The two things go hand in hand. There could be 100+ things I could tell you that would be ideal for you to do every day for best mental and physical health but for now let’s focus on these 6.
6 things to do for whole health and wellbeing every day:
1. Connect your body and breath
Connecting your body and breath will help you to feel more grounded before you start the day. You could do some gentle yoga and meditation. Slow down and pay attention to what is going on in your body.
Feel the physical sensation of your breath. How fast or slow is your breath? What muscles can you feel expanding when you breathe in and contracting when you breathe out? How warm or cool does the breath feel as it enters and exits the body? What sounds do you hear as you listen to your breath? Spend at least 10 minutes every day doing this, preferably in the morning before you get busy with your day. When you
2. Practice exercise that is fun and playful.
We all know physical exercise is important to the body’s health but it’s also important for our mental health. And let’s face it, you’re more likely to actually practice exercise that you actually enjoy! Do you like to dance? Sign up for a regular dance class at your gym or a local studio. Did you love riding your bike as a kid? Hop back on and make it a part of your regular routine. Play tag with your kids in the back yard or organize a regular neighborhood kick ball game. Maybe you’d like to learn tennis. Visit the indoor trampoline park and jump away! Love the water? Join the local pool and get some laps in. Make whatever your activity level is a fun and playful one.
Regular exercise helps your mind to stay sharp, produces all those “feel good” hormones and helps your body to stay strong. It isn’t uncommon for people who don’t exercise to end up with heart troubles and need help from the cardiology experts. To avoid needing to make that visit, as long as you’ve consulted with your own health care practitioner first before engaging in any exercise regimen, it’s wise to get your heart and lungs pumping to some degree on a regular basis.
3. Center your eating around whole natural foods.
The more whole, natural foods you eat, the more vitamins and micronutrients you’re giving to your body and brain. Science shows us that when we are consuming an abundance of naturally bright-colored fruits and vegetables, we are simply healthier.
There is plenty of debate to be had about food plans and what is the best way to eat for health and weight but no one is going to tell you that eating plenty of leafy greens is bad for you. It’s all about balance, of course and different people have different food needs and/or sensitivities. But if you manage to center your eating around a variety of plant foods in a rainbow of colors, you’re well on your way to whole health and wellbeing.
4. Take up a hobby.
Practicing relaxing and joyful activities that engage your brain and body contribute to your whole health and wellbeing in myriad ways. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to create pottery on the wheel or perhaps tinkering on old car engines is something you’d love to do. Birdwatching or growing a garden might be something you’d really enjoy. Perhaps taking a photography class or joining a club would fit the bill. Crossword puzzles might keep your brain sharp or maybe it’s writing, painting or training for a marathon that strikes your fancy.
Dedicating time, attention and energy to an activity that you do because it’s interesting to you helps keep you feeling young and engaged with life. That alone is well worth the effort.
5. Spend time with people you really like.
I often reflect on this for myself and for my clients. Over the years I’ve had clients who are miserable in their personal or professional relationships and much of my work has been to assist in helping them to feel empowered to realize they CAN choose who they are spending time with. You may FEEL as if you are trapped in a social relationship, work situation or personal relationship but the reality is, you do have choice.
Choose to spend time with people who are genuine, with those who help you feel uplifted and encouraged rather than those that put you down or make you feel less than. It’s been said that you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with and there is truth to that. Your whole health and wellbeing hinges on the way you feel on a daily basis so it makes sense to consider the company you keep.
6. Get your daily dose of fresh air.
Fresh air and sunlight is key to both physical and mental health. No matter what the weather, there are ways to get your dose of daily connection to Nature. If it’s cold and snowing, put on your warm winter gear and go build a snow man! If it’s rainy, step into your rainbows and poncho and go splash in the puddles. Try to get outside some every day and look up at the sky, out at the horizon and breathe in the fresh air.
We spend too much time indoors these days. Create a habit of scheduling time to get your connection to Nature everyday for your whole health and wellbeing.
I help professional women who work in the helping professions to develop self care plans as an essential and integral part of their plan for career success in conjunction with personal fulfillment. Contact me and let’s discuss how I can help you bring it all together.