In the first part of this series, it was discussed that poor mental health can and will have a drastic effect on a business. It was also established that a cornerstone of good mental health is enough sleep and some vital information on nutrition was provided.
Not only does exercise do good things for body parts such as muscles, fibres, tendons, bones and blood flow, but it has so many benefits beyond the physical. It has benefits for your emotional balance, so that you feel more resilient and ready to tackle the challenges that life brings.
A cornerstone of mental health is exercise. There are neurochemicals that are released when exercising that give you a general sense of well-being; they also help you to focus better so that your decision-making and problem-solving and creativity are all enhanced.
When we experience situations that are pressurised, whether at work or home, our body secretes adrenaline into our systems (it’s just the way we are, biologically) and if we do not burn it off with exercise it stays around, useless and potentially harmful. If you’re not convinced, search for information on tips to help you improve the mind. Guess what comes up every time? Exercise.
Our tip this week:
The key is not how much but how regularly you do it. If you haven’t exercised for years, don’t worry. Just start somewhere, a very short walk, a couple of stretching exercises, a few breathing exercises. Start with five minutes a day, two days a week, and gradually build it up.
Kill two birds with one stone (exercise and nature) and walk under some trees, or next to the beach.
There are three other components to the physical side of mental health. These are sleep, nutrition and nature (as in getting out).
Serena Williams loves to dance.
“For me, it's so important to mix it up,” she told Fitness Magazine. “I ran, and then I biked. Then I did elliptical. That didn't work out so well, because it was boring, so I tried yoga. I started dancing because I couldn't train when I was sick. We started making up moves, and it was fun. Now I run for 10 minutes, and then I dance.”
