How Can We Simultaneously Improve Our Mental and Physical Health?
Quick Summary
- This blog post discusses the ways in which our mental and physical health can intersect, even when we are unaware of it. Keep reading to understand why this happens more often than we might think and get a few helpful tips to keep yourself healthy!
What is the Correlation?
From the moment we enter college, we feel bombarded with so many things to do: register for classes, join clubs, get involved with the community. And on top of all of this, we are expected to manage not just our physical health, but also check in with ourselves mentally. These latter two to-do’s often take last priority in the grand scheme of imminent deadlines and assignments. However, if we are able to better understand the intersection of mental and physical health, we can effectively manage both without the task feeling so daunting.
Have you ever wondered why your body feels heavy and groggy when you are mentally stressed out or anxious, despite being physically healthy? This is most likely due to our tendency to treat our mental and physical health as separate entities. There is a lot more overlap between the two than one might think, as suggested by the Biopsychosocial Model, which states that medical conditions are not simply physical, but must consider psychological and social factors as well. Our health is holistic, composed of multiple different parts that interact and allow us to gauge how we feel both internally and externally. It is often shown that certain mental health conditions such as depression can increase likelihood of diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and more (Morgan). And, of course, when we are physically unwell, this can lead to mental unrest. So, it is important to manage both to mitigate health risks overall.
Some Suggestions!
- Yoga: Take a moment to stretch your body and move from your head to your toes, releasing tension as you go.
- Mindfulness meditations or journaling: Step back from the busy world and reflect on the things bringing you joy or making you feel at peace. Write it down to look back on later, if that resonates!
- Chef up something creative: Find a recipe you’ve been dying to try and have fun experimenting with something new. Cook or bake with friends and you can make a whole menu of it!
- Get in touch with nature: Summer is just around the corner and the weather is not so gloomy, so hit up the Arb or go for a jog around The Greenbelt to ground yourself get that body moving!
References
Morgan, K., & Society, J. (n.d.). GMH TOOLKIT. https://www.apa.org/international/networks/global-psychology-alliance/lesson-6-physical-mental-health.pdf