Our bodies are more than just a bunch of organs sewn together. It’s made up of complex systems and processes that are so interconnected with one another that if one part fails to function well, the entire body suffers.
Notice how not taking that 30-minute jog in the morning affects your energy levels for the rest of the day. Notice how missing your daily walks for an entire week affects your overall outlook. Notice how not choosing to eat healthy affects your focus and your ability to think clearly. You see, keeping your body healthy is essential to keeping your mind functioning at optimum.
Recognize the mind-body connection – your physical body and mental processes and ideas, work hand-in-hand in everything that you do. Consider this: running a 5K marathon with a cluttered mind won’t be as beneficial for you if you pushed those legs with a clear headspace. Neither is practicing daily meditation as beneficial without getting enough sleep or eating well.
So, how do you foster a strong body and a strong mind? Here are 3 no-nonsense tips to build your physical and mental muscle:
- Move your body every day.
A consistent routine is better than short-lived spurts. Your body will thank you better for your daily 30-minute walks than your sporadic trips to the gym. Determine the type of physical exercise that you enjoy and discipline yourself to do it every day. There are no shortcuts to physical fitness and you will only reap results if you put in the work.
- Practice positivity.
What you think, you become. Instead of dwelling on your setbacks or things in your life that you cannot change, focus on your personal goals and what specific steps you can do to reach them. Embrace failure and accept that it is a necessary part of the process towards becoming stronger, then celebrate victories, both big and small.
It’s also important to point out that a lot of the positivity in your life has to do with the company you keep. So carefully surround yourself with a positive network of people who will build you up and not tear you down.
- Always be learning.
Whether you are just starting at your local yoga club, or have been a practitioner for years, there is always something new to learn or areas to improve on. Develop the attitude of making every opportunity a learning opportunity. Get to know your body and push your limits. Observe your mental habits and determine what habits to keep, and what needs to go. Progress is progress nonetheless, no matter how slow. Always be learning and keep moving forward.
Every aspect of your life will benefit from having a strong body, and a strong mind. Combine excellent physical and mental health habits to reach your full potential and achieve the goals that you set for yourself, no matter how large or small.
Read more of these tips at Women’s Health Conversations.
What do you think of these 3 tips to building physical and mental muscle? Let us know in the comments below!
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