Mental Health → Mental Fitness
When we think of the word fitness, our minds automatically think of physical activity & exercise. Physical fitness refers to the ability of your body’s systems (cardiovascular system, pulmonary system, musculoskeletal system, etc) to work together efficiently to allow you to be healthy & perform activities of daily living.
Although, most of us don’t think of the word fitness as it relates to the mind & mental health. But just like we have the need to exercise our bodies consistently to maintain physical health & fitness, we must treat our mental health the same way. Something we’ll coin as mental fitness: exactly like physical fitness, it’s something that you actively have to keep working on in order to improve & maintain.
Just like physical fitness relates to the body's ability to function, the same goes with mental fitness which is a person's ability to think clearly & to make decisions efficiently & effectively while maintaining a state of well-being. Something that can be really hard to do if we don’t know exactly how to “exercise '' healthy habits, thoughts, behaviors & decisions that are aligned with our goals, the life we want to live & the person we want to be.
The benefits of working towards & maintaining mental fitness are profoundly impactful:
Ability to be more present (mitigating stress & anxiety)
Responding & communicating more effectively vs. automatically reacting
Improved cognitive function - better focus, memory, concentration
Increased positive emotions & optimism
Elevated confidence & strengthened relationship you have with yourself
Easier to adopt & adhere to healthy & positive lifestyle habits
Improved sleep quality
This blog post serves to introduce 7 tangible ways you can “exercise” your “mind muscles” positively & practice mental fitness to create/maintain optimal mental health & reap the life-changing benefits…
1. Get physical exercise! - when our bodies are happy & healthy, our minds are happy & healthy because our mind & body are interconnected:
Working out can relax the mind and relieve stress & plays a role in feelings of achievement which lead to positive emotions & mindsets
2. Eat & drink smart and for your health - water your brain & eat the rainbow
Staying hydrated leads to optimal cognitive function and eating the rainbow with fruits & veggies also supports optimal gut health, leading to optimal brain health
3. Meditation - Creating a meditation routine that is realistic for you
Consistency is key here…if you’ve never mediated, start small by practicing 2-3 minutes everyday or utilize apps such as Calm or Headspace to provide helpful resources & tools to help you build a mediation practice
4. Practice gratitude - keep a gratitude journal
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude helps to develop more positive emotions & shift our thinking towards optimism
5. Practice savoring - an intervention that involves slowing down during moments such as:
Hugging a loved one, Eating a meal, Drinking a cup of coffee, Taking your first breath of fresh air after stepping outside
6. Notice your thoughts & practice reframing - ask yourself:
Was this thought kind? Was this thought helpful?
7. Practice body awareness - sit with your eyes closed & do a 3-5 minute body scan
Focus your attention on each part of the body, starting with your head & going all the way down to your toes. When you feel tension in a certain area of the body, bring awareness to that area, cleanse the area with deep & intentional breaths until the tension is released
Mental fitness is important to create a happy, healthy & balanced life! And luckily, WellVue provides a multitude of services that align with strengthening mental fitness, such as:
Group exercise classes & personal training to help exercise the body
Yoga classes to help cultivate body awareness, slow down to be present, & practice meditation
Health coaching services to guide mastering healthy habits & put words into action
Nutritionist services to help understand what foods work best to create & maintain optimal health
