Physical and mental health: The treasure of energy and optimism

Do you wake up with energy and optimism? Or are you frequently sidetracked by pain, headaches, discomfort, and fatigue? Perhaps you struggle to complete tasks because you feel physically ill. Physical well-being is much more than good health. It is the direct result of lifestyle choices and our behaviors around sleep, diet, physical activity, hygiene, and relaxation that achieve functioning.

What is physical health?

Physical health is defined as the state of your body, taking into account everything from the absence of illness to being physically fit. For total well-being, physical health is essential.

It can be impacted by:

• Lifestyle: Eating habits, degree of exercise, and actions (such as smoking and alcohol).

• Human biology: A person's genetics and physiology may make achieving excellent physical health easier or harder; the environment which includes our surroundings and our exposure to things like sunshine or harmful toxins.

Why it is Important?

• Being physically capable and fit enables us to interact with our social circles more and better. The same holds for our engagement and relationship with our spiritual practices.

• Being physically healthy allows you to save on unnecessary medical expenses since you are less likely to become ill.

• Life expectancy is also increased by physical well-being.

How can you enhance your physical health? 

Here are some tips you must practice to stay physically fit:

• Be more active: By increasing physical activities, you prevent laziness, shed more calories, which leads to weight loss, and also improve cardiovascular health. Moreover, it helps in reducing stress and promotes better blood circulation. This happens due to the release of serotonin and dopamine hormones after an intense workout like jogging, cycling, running, hiking, etc. which helps you feel euphoric.

• Hydrate yourself: All the metabolic functions in our body, including the removal of nitrogenous waste and toxins, depend highly on water.

• Prefer stairs over lifts: The next time you need to get on a higher floor, take the stairs rather than a lift. You'll train your lower body muscles as well as your lungs and blood vessels. This way, you can include your physical activities in your routine without planning too much.

• Eat a healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet doesn't have to be difficult to maintain. It's not about imposing serious restrictions; it's about enjoying the process of being healthy. It's been recommended to have five servings of fruits a day. Replace fast foods with nutrient-rich meals; consume fresh vegetables, protein, carbs, etc. Include all these in your diet, and you are good to go.

• Reduce refined sugar intake: The finest thing I've ever done for my body was to give up on refined sugar. Although the damage it causes to our bodies is horrific, if you struggle to do so, don't worry! You can replace refined sugar with natural sweeteners. Some sources, like jaggery, honey, and dates, have no or minimal negative effects on the body.

• Avoid continuous sitting: If you want to be healthy and immunize yourself, you need to take breaks from inactivity by engaging in physical activity. You can use the Pomodoro technique to manage your time.

• Create healthy habits: The study indicates that by changing our behaviors, we may prolong our lives and enhance our health. Alter your eating habits and work out at least five days a week. Moreover, stop drinking too much alcohol and smoking.
  

 What is mental health?

The World Health Organization defines mental health as "mental well-being in which an individual recognizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and can contribute to his or her community."

Mental diseases influence people's health behaviors such as eating wisely, getting regular exercise, getting enough sleep, engaging in safe sexual practices, using alcohol and cigarettes, and following medical therapy, all of which increase the risk of physical sickness.

Unemployment, shattered families, poverty, drug misuse, and related criminality are all consequences of mental illness. Immune dysfunction is significantly influenced by poor mental health.

How can you enhance your mental health?

• Take a break if necessary:  Try to take a rest if you are feeling overwhelmed in any situation, even if it is only for a short time. Changing your surroundings might help you relax. 

• Boost your joy:  Try to plan out some time and engage in a hobby that makes you feel enjoyable. Listen to music, prepare your favorite meal, dance often, and do everything that makes you feel most alive and enjoyable.

• Find your purpose:  Discovering significance in your day is important. Plan your day and stay disciplined. Write daily journals to keep yourself calm.

• Work on something that allows you to feel beneficial: Spending some valuable time with your loved ones is the best thing you could do to make yourself feel good and wanted. Try to make someone happy every day. As Henry David Thoreau said-
•  "What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters as compared to what lies within us, and when you bring what is within, out into this world, miracles happen".

• Request aid: Seeking assistance is not a show of weakness; rather, it is a display of strength. Furthermore, keep in mind that counseling works and may be preferable if necessary.
  

The link between physical and mental health:

Our physical and mental health are deeply connected. Maintaining our physical health benefits our physical health. Neglecting our mental health may result in bodily symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, or gastrointestinal problems and hence it is critical to maintain both mental and physical health.