By Sylvia Beligotti, MA

Many things may affect our mental health: stress, work, family or relationship issues, and a myriad of life transitions. Sometimes, however, mental health issues like depression or anxiety can manifest for seemingly no reason at all.

When your mental health declines, it is wise to seek help from your physician or schedule time with a therapist. In addition to therapy and medical advice, it can also be helpful to shift the way you treat your body on a daily basis.

A healthy lifestyle, while often overlooked, plays a large role in our emotional and mental well-being. With everything going on in the world this year, it is crucial to move your body to protect your mental health!

How Physical Health Impacts Mental Health

When we treat our bodies well, we feel better overall. It may seem like a simple sentiment, but there are many truths to it. For example, consider your diet.

Do you nourish your body well? Do you drink enough water and maintain balanced eating habits?

If you don’t, your habits may be impacting your mental health. Our brains rely on the nutrients we consume to stay sharp and clear; otherwise, we may feel sluggish, unfocused, and possibly anxious or depressed. Of course, a good diet won’t fix all mental health problems — but it’s a good place to start.

Then, there’s the act of moving your body: exercise. Depending on your life and work situations, you may find yourself fairly active already. However, since the start of COVID-19, many of us have become less active due to remote work situations.

Being inactive and sedentary for long periods of time can easily lead to depression. Exercise is a natural mood booster; even just walking for a half-hour every day can significantly decrease your chance of becoming depressed. Exercise can also help with stress and anxiety, which we are in no shortage of in 2020.

How to Get Moving

When you’ve been in a slump for a while, it’s hard to get going again. Many people picture exercise as intense workouts in the gym or running several miles every day. Remember that this isn’t necessarily the case, and every little movement counts.

If you want to become more active but aren’t sure where to start, try incorporating a walk into your daily routine. If possible, try to take your walk outdoors. Walking is one of the easiest but most impactful forms of exercise, and after weeks of daily walks, you may find yourself feeling more at ease than ever before.

While walking is a great option, you may want to get creative with your exercise routine. Yoga has become a go-to for many people in quarantine, and it can happen in the comfort of your home. Moreover, yoga videos are readily available for free online, for any skill level — so if you’re a beginner, don’t fret. Other similar activities you may also enjoy are Pilates or dancing. These forms of exercise are so impactful because they help move your body and they’re so fun to do that people often forget it is exercise!

Prioritizing Your Mental Health Through Physical Health

If you have been struggling with mental health issues, you aren’t alone. Furthermore, if your mental health has declined during the pandemic, know that there is hope. The pandemic has turned many of our lives upside down, and with no clear end in sight, it’s natural to feel anxious or stressed out. Though you can’t control everything right now, there is one thing you can take control of, and that’s exercise.

By making time to move your body, you’re doing your mental health a huge favor. Remember that you don’t need to do anything too strenuous. Experiment with the types of physical activity that you like. When you find one you like, stick with it.

As always, if your mental health continues to worsen, seek help from a therapist or medical professional. Exercise won’t solve everything, and it certainly won’t solve all our mental health issues — but it’s a great place to start.

Sylvia Beligotti, MA, LMFT Associate, works with clients at the Relationship Counseling Center of Austin who are suffering from stress, anxiety, or depression. For more tips on how to use the act of physical movement to alleviate mental discomfort, schedule a session with Sylvia. Give her a call at (512) 270-4883, ext. 128, or request an appointment online through the RCC Austin Scheduling page.

For more information, click here: Life Transitions Counseling