We all know that a healthy diet and regular movement increase our physical fitness. But the physical is only part of our make-up as humans. We are whole beings – body, mind and spirit. (We will discuss feeding the spirit in another blog post.)
It is important to keep the non-physical aspects of ourselves fit and healthy as well. These three aspects are closely intertwined, and keeping one’s “self” healthy improves the fitness of the other two.
For example, the mood of a sedentary overeater will generally differ from a meditating, health-conscious person who practices yoga. Mind, body and spirit for each of these individuals are quite different relationships.
The most important aspects of a healthy physical body are rest, nutrition, and exercise. The same can be said for the mental body.
For the mental body, rest can mean:
- Meditation
- Visualization
- Pleasant memories
- Play and laughter
Nutrition can mean:
- Doing something new
- Manual activities like art or crafts
- Engaging conversation
- Present moment mindfulness
Exercise can mean:
- Mental challenge programs like Lumosity
- Learning a new skill
- Puzzles and quizzes
- And literal physical exercise to increase blood flow and endorphins
Do your mental exercises!
Just as you would move your hand away from a hot stove, move your mind away from painful, negative thoughts. The more you focus on positive thoughts and emotions, the better your mental mood and fitness.
Stay energized and engaged in life by frequently learning new things for mind and body. Feed your body with what it needs so that it in turn can feed your mind!