Being healthy is like an iceberg. While most people focus on eating well and working out, it is only the beginning. Below the surface, your health needs to be supported by a broad base, including occupational, social, emotional, environmental, spiritual and mental health.
Looking at the mental health piece, according to the World Health Organization, approximately 1 in 4 people will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.
Moving your body through something as simple as a daily walk is a powerful self-care tool for improving anxiety and depression.
#1 – Boosts mood and increases self-esteem. Physical activity stimulates the release of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are crucial in regulating mood and emotions, giving you a sense of control and accomplishment. This improved mood and self-esteem can help to mitigate symptoms of depression and other mental health disorders.
#2 – Improves sleep quality. Physical activity increases the time spent in deep sleep when the body repairs and rejuvenates itself. Movement can help to regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Maintaining a regular play/exercise routine can help establish a healthy sleep pattern, further benefiting mental health.
#3 – Makes you smarter. As the renowned psychiatrist, Dr. John Ratey, says in my book, “when you use your body, and use it consistently, you’re driving your brain not only to follow the movement patterns and get better (for example, at dance or tai chi or taekwondo or tennis or soccer), but also to get better in all those other ways we use our brain (for example, in reading, learning a new language, doing math). By playing games or getting yourself more fit, you increase your ability to learn, to take in, store, remember, use, and search for information – you get smarter.”**
You know that saying, “Every step counts”? It’s actually spot on.
These findings held true even after accounting for BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking status, pre-existing health conditions, and step intensity.
According to the scientists, the benefits began at 2,500 steps and continued up to 17,000 steps.
For example, if you’re currently taking 3,000 steps, achieving the 10,000 steps “standard” might sound so unrealistic you don’t even bother to try.
But could you add 1,000 to start? As this research shows, it’s enough to provide a benefit, and you can build from there.
Besides, that’s how lasting change happens: a little at a time. And it can be fun – who doesn’t need a little more joy?
If the phrase don’t judge a book by its cover was an image, it would be me. I am an avid outdoorsman that loves to teach people about the outdoors whether its specific skills like camping or just exposing people to different outdoor activities. I have been in the skilled outdoors space for 30+ years and have been loving it forever. If not for friends, I would still be focused on my corporate career instead of focusing on the things I love to do. My goal is to hit the Scottish highlands in the next 2 years.
