Mental Health
Meaningful Work. Unforgettable Experiences.
During these unpredictable times, we have been asked to wear masks, stay 6 feet apart, and even quarantine in our homes. According to the CDC, all of these actions can increase stress and anxiety.
Your Mental Health Is Important!
We cannot express enough the importance of having a stabile and healthy mentality. An experiment conducted by Dutch researchers involving around 7,000 school age children found that "...some support the the self-image and social interaction hypotheses and thereby confirms the importance of the psychological and sociological aspects of physical activity" (Monshouwer, et. al., 2013). Mental health goes hand in hand with physical health because it can effect the way you perceive yourself as well as your interactions in society.
Get Your Mind Right!
It is NOT necessary to push yourself to the limits in a workout in order to seek the benefits! Contrary to popular beliefs, a 10 minute walk has numerous health benefits. In a systemic literature review conducted by researchers found "The strongest evidence was found for improvements in physical self-perceptions, which accompanied enhanced self-esteem in the majority of studies measuring these outcomes" (Lubans, et. al., 2016). Moderate exercise helps your mind by positively increasing how you feel about yourself which can have direct impacts on daily routines, like work ethic and overall happiness.
Keeping a Healthy Mindset
Here are a few ways to keep a healthy mindset
Take a break from social media
Connect with others
Have a regular sleeping pattern
Regular exercise
Well balanced meal
Know what to do if you do become sick
Seek help
References:
Lubans, D., Smith, J., Richards, J., Hillman, C., Raine, L., Faulkner, G., . . . Biddle, S. (2016). Physical activity for cognitive and mental health in youth: A systematic review of mechanisms. Pediatrics, 138(3), e20161642. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1642
Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19. (n.d.). Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
Monshouwer, K., ten Have, M., van Poppel, M., Kemper, H., & Vollebergh, W. (2013). Possible mechanisms explaining the association between physical activity and mental health: Findings from the 2001 dutch health behaviour in school-aged children survey. Clinical Psychological Science, 1(1), 67-74. doi:10.1177/2167702612450485