Taking care of your physical body AND your mind for head to toe health
Many people don’t realize how intimately our minds and bodies are intertwined, but the mind-body connection has been scientifically proven. This means that when you treat your body well, you boost your emotional wellness, and vice versa. That’s why it’s so important to look after both your physical and mental health to improve your overall well-being: you’re actually reaping benefits on both sides.
Some areas we often overlook when it comes to boosting both bodily and emotional health include eating well, maintaining oral hygiene, quitting smoking, and being more active. To live a healthier lifestyle and to practice self-care, incorporate these easy head-to-toe strategies to improve your mental and physical health.
You Are What You Eat
What you eat is incredibly important to both your mental and physical well-being. If you’ve been struggling to eat a well-balanced diet, you’ll feel less energetic and less motivated to make a healthy change. You’re more likely to suffer from depression, and struggle to fall asleep at night. Eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables will help you look and feel great, and a balance of whole grains and lean meats and low sugar intake will boost your energy and your mood.
If you’ve been struggling with diabetes or pre-diabetes, changing your diet is the first thing you should do. If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, vision problems, and even foot ulcers or tooth decay. Find the right treatment options and discover how a healthy diet and a good exercise routine will help you treat your symptoms and enjoy improved mental and physical health.
Don’t Forget to Brush
Have you been avoiding a visit to the dentist? You may not realize it, but your overall health can be affected by your teeth. Even your mental well-being is connected to your dental health, and if you’re suffering from depression, you’re more likely to have poor oral hygiene. For your well-being, get back on track by eating more nutritious meals and visiting the dentist for regular checkups, and scheduling any dental work you may need. This will improve your physical and mental health.
Quit Smoking
When it comes to comprehensive health, you want to do what’s best for your body and mind. Smoking affects your breathing and restricts blood flow throughout your body, making it harder for you to exercise, stay active, and be healthy. Smoking has also been linked to higher levels of irritability and anxiety, and long-term smokers are more likely to suffer from depression. If you’re a smoker, seek help so you can quit as soon as possible.
Get Creative with Exercise
If you spend a lot of time sitting at work, your physical and mental health will suffer. Not only will you struggle to stay in shape, but without enough exercise you’re more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, and even depression. It’s not always easy to make time for a regular workout at the gym, but there are other ways you can exercise. Whether it’s walking daily, practicing yoga or even having an impromptu dance party, you can get exercise at home without overwhelming your schedule.
Clean Up Your House
There’s something refreshing about having a clean and organized home. It makes for a better living environment and it goes a long way toward reducing stress. Even the act of cleaning and decluttering can lower stress levels! If your home has been negatively contributing to your mood, it’s time to make some changes. Take the time to really declutter and organize, then give your home a thorough cleaning. Then, commit to a regular schedule for keeping it that way. Doing so ensures your home stays the cozy haven it’s meant to be, and is one less thing for you to stress about.
Look after your physical and mental health with these tips, and make a healthy change in your life. You deserve to look and feel great, be full of energy, and enjoy life to the fullest. Eating well, maintaining dental hygiene, quitting smoking, keeping a clean home and exercising daily will help you reach your health and wellness goals.
About the Author
Jennifer McGregor co-created Public Health Library to make it easier for people to find high quality health info. She is a pre-med student who enjoys writing about health and medical topics to help the readers find reputable health resources.
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