The secret to living a long and fulfilled life lies in daily activities that stimulate your mind and body. This is especially important during the coronavirus pandemic when we need our immune system to perform flawlessly.
From exercising regularly to socializing more, here are the top activities that will strengthen you as a person.
Short bursts of physical activity
As you might have guessed, physical activity does wonder both for our mind and body. Namely, when we exercise, the happiness hormone, serotonin, is released into our bloodstream. Likewise, regular physical activity strengthens every muscle in our body.
Hitting the gym and running every day seem like the most obvious physical activities. However, you needn’t exercise hard and long, as 30-minutes per day is more than enough. A brisk walk around the block is more than enough to keep you invigorated.
The magic of walking and standing
It is true that walking is considered physical activity. The reason for this is the sedentary lifestyle of modern people. That’s why you should look to walk or at least stand up every time you get a chance. For instance, make a phone call while pacing up and down your room.
At work, you should get up every 30 to 45 minutes and stretch your legs a bit. Furthermore, instead of taking the elevator, use the stairs. Finally, you can get a standing desk to boost productivity and relieve the strain from your back.
Be careful about the info you absorb
The coronavirus pandemic is a great example of how mental health can be hurt by an information overflow. Listening to the number of infected people and those who have passed away can easily lead to depression. That’s why you need to learn to filter the information that reaches your ears/mind.
Emotional exhaustion is something that you have to be aware of and never let it happen to you. Stay clear of negative news and toxic people. For instance, turn off the notifications on your mobile phone and choose carefully which news portal you open to get the latest updates.
Focus on the positive
In addition to filtering out the information you receive every day, you should shift your life’s interest toward a more positive stance. Instead of being negative all the time, try to focus on the good things in life. When it comes to the news, watch uplifting and heartwarming stories with a happy end.
Also, if there are obvert positive people in your life, try to deepen your relationship with them. This way, positivity will transfer onto you and you’ll smile more. Also, don’t forget to believe in yourself and don’t listen to people who tell you cannot achieve your life goals.
The great outdoors
If you are looking to calm your nerves, sit on a riverbank or venture into nature. Reconnecting with nature is a great way to strengthen your mind and body. If you live far away from the wilderness, do not despair, as you are always a short drive from the nearest nature reserve or a national park.
In fact, you can get the whole family to come with you! Look for kids bikes for sale and attach them to the roof of the car. Once you reach your destination, it’s time to cycle through nature with your loved ones: the perfect combo of mental and physical exercise.
Control your breathing
Another piece of advice that combines physical and mental elements of your personality is learning to control your breathing. Namely, if you ever did yoga, you are well aware of the importance of proper breathing. However, you can fight various diseases and mental issues with proper breathing, such as a panic attack.
Once you become the master of inhaling and exhaling, you will be able to neutralize the negative effects of stress and fatigue. Slowing down your breathing and oxygen intake allows you to calm yourself down, thus protecting your overall health.
Just like physical activity, only 3 to 5 minutes of controlled breathing per every day is necessary. The best time during the day for breathing exercises in the early morning or the period immediately after you finish work.
Establish a daily routine and stick to it
Many psychiatrists recommend that breaking a daily routine comes with numerous benefits. However, if you are after strengthening your mind and body, then you should look to establish new routines. One such routine is the aforementioned breathing exercises.
The routine you establish should help you draw a clear line between your work and private life. This will help you stay productive, while at the same time allowing you enough time to rest.
Some of the activities that should make their way into your daily routine include but are not restricted to include taking regular breaks, taking your time to eat meals, an afternoon nap, etc.
Keep your body weight in check
In stressful times, people tend to eat their sorrows and fears away. This is bad both for your psyche and more importantly, for your body weight. Weight management is important, as obesity is correlated with numerous diseases. Furthermore, you cannot feel good about yourself if you are overweight.
Socialize as much as possible
The COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted the way we normally socialize and interact with other people. As people miss the days when they hung out with their friends all day long, we realize that social interaction is essential for our health.
We are not only referring to mental health but physical as well. For example, if you don’t feel like running on a Monday morning, your friend will be there to get you out of bed and into your running shoes. If you are working from home, don’t forget to hang out with people in person whenever possible.
We have listed 9 activities that are aimed at strengthening both your mind and body. Sometimes, these activities are as simple as taking a stroll around the block, while at other times you will have to invest in a bicycle to reconnect with nature. However, no price is too high to maintain the mind-body balance.
