HEALTHY MIND – HEALTHY BODY
It’s obvious today that eating well and exercising is key to maintaining a healthy body. So much so it’s hard to imagine a time when this wasn’t an accepted norm. But what about our mind? How many of us think it’s important to give the most complex organ in our body the equivalent of a morning run and nourished with the right sources of “food”
It is now commonly accepted that body and mind are intrinsically linked, for example, we get physically tense or sweat under extreme periods of stress. It is therefore important ensure that we exercise both our bodies and minds.
It is also worth remembering that with the advancement of the agricultural revolution and more recently the development of a heavily service based society, we are less active than we once were. The majority of us work in an office environment, coupled with the fact that modern life is generally busy, full of stress with little time to nourish our body and minds. However there are few things we can all do to aid both physical and mental health
Let’s face it, we lead very sedentary lives today, so it’s important to exercise and be as active as you can throughout your day. Add movement in your day by taking the stairs instead of the lift; for those of you who work on the 35th floor, this may not be a good idea. However, you can take the lift to the 30th floor and walk from there! In the office, walk over to see your colleagues instead of using the phone… every step counts!
Outside of work experiment with an exercise style that works for you: yoga, pilates, walking, running, cycling, rollerblading, swimming, dancing or competitive sports… anything that will get you moving, and that’s fun! One invaluable piece of advice that I can provide regarding exercise is that you need to determine if you are a morning person or a night person. I am a morning person, so I always exercise in the morning. I know that if I leave it to the evening, my energy will be too low, and I will never do it!
Whilst the advice for maintaining a health body may seem a little more obvious and easier to access there are some simple steps we can take to maintain mental health. Try practicing deep conscious breathing throughout the day. You’ll be amazed at the immediate calming effect it has on your body. The “one-breath” meditation is a powerful, straightforward relaxation technique that can be practiced anytime, anywhere from your office or on the way home
Try it whenever you feel fatigued or out of whack: sit in a comfortable chair, straighten your back, relax your shoulders and take a deep breath. Let the air open your chest, and imagine that it is revitalizing every cell in your body. Hold your breath for a count of 3, then exhale, releasing every bit of tension. Repeat 8 times for a quick pick-me-up.
Take a 30-minute appointment with yourself every day, and treat yourself to regular quiet time. Turn your phone off, let everyone know that you don’t want to be disturbed, listen to music, study, pray, meditate… recharge yourself… whatever works, so you can relax!You don’t have to become a physical and mental exercise fanatic, but nobody can sweat for you. If you want to stay competitive in a modern world you have to make physical activity a part of your daily routine. Hopefully these are a few tips that may assist on that journey
