In the past few years, it has certainly felt like there’s been a growing emphasis put on individual health and wellness. Perhaps this was sparked by the impact of the global pandemic, as it made people truly look at just how healthy their mental and emotional landscape really was. In turn, this also inspired many to do some self-reflection on their physical health as well. It’s long been recognized by spiritual guides, nutrition experts, and other dietary and fitness professionals that health truly encompasses both physical as well as mental and emotional wellness.
Understanding the importance of emotional and mental health in the context of physical health and wellness can help you develop a plan that’s tailored to your own personal needs and lifestyle. In that same vein, it’s important to keep in mind that health and wellness is very much a personal journey, and you should do your best to avoid getting caught up in the traps of self-comparison. The fact of the matter is that the only person who your mental and physical wellness truly impacts is you yourself.
Keeping that in mind, here are a few easy tips and tricks that can help anyone reclaim control over both their physical and mental wellness.
“A few simple steps can go a long way toward improving your eating patterns and wellness. Still, if you’re trying to live a healthier life, do not just focus on the foods you eat. Exercise, sleep, and social relationships are also important.”
– Kris Gunnars, Author, Healthline –
Changing up your Diet and Eating Healthy
While this may come as a surprise to some, our diet actually plays a huge role in our overall physical health and wellness. Not only that, but it also has a significant role in our ability to see results in the gym when we do incorporate other forms of healthy habits like exercise. But now we’re getting ahead of ourselves. It is absolutely critical to eat healthy and regularly when you’re addressing your physical health. By maintaining a healthy diet that is both balanced and sustainable for your size and weight, you’ll start to notice that you have more energy and feel better overall.
“Young athletes underestimate the power of a good diet all the time. It’s something I give a lot of advice about because I think it’s so important that people have this information. I mean, when we really examine what we’re putting in our bodies, we gain so much control over our life. It’s a very satisfying journey.”
– Dr. Michael Green, Chief Medical Officer, Winona –
Dieting is also a very individual thing. Some people find that a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle is the one that most agrees with them, while others prefer a meat-based diet. No matter what type of food restrictions you want to put on yourself, the most important thing is that you’re ingesting enough protein, minerals, vitamins, and other important nutrients that help us stay healthy.
“Fruits and veggies every single day. Oh yeah. The more colorful my plate, the better. I didn’t used to be like this, either, but I think it was around the time my friend introduced me to morning protein-based fruit-smoothies, that my whole perspective on food changed.”
– Juan Pablo Cappello, Co-Founder and CEO, Nue Life –
Exercise Regularly
This is probably the first piece of advice that came to mind when you were wondering about how you could reclaim control of your physical health and fitness. It might not sound like that much fun, but committing the time and energy to regular exercise will undoubtedly lead you to a healthier lifestyle.
“Personally, I love my time in the gym because it helps me get away from everything else. I can just focus on myself and decompress after a long day. Besides, I feel like I have more energy when I’m exercising regularly.”
– Melanie Bedwell, E-commerce Manager, OLIPOP –
There’s no need to go so hard in the gym that you end up hurting yourself, but the plethora of benefits that stem from engaging in regular exercise are absolutely undeniable. You can start off as slow as you need to and ramp up into a more intense workout regime if you need to, or customize your workout plan to fit your own goals, level of physical capability, and current lifestyle. You aren’t trying to enter the NFL.
“People sometimes have this idea that everyone who works out is bench pressing 300 lbs and throwing massive amounts of weight around like it’s not a big deal. In reality, though, most people who are exercising are just relatively average. A lot of people get stuck in their mind.”
– Nick Wallace, Co-Founder, President & Chief Farm Officer, 99 Counties –
Start Taking Vitamins
Beyond the benefits of physical exercise and eating a nutritious diet, you can even boost your health routine further by taking vitamins on a regular basis. There is a huge spectrum of vitamins that are available in a number of stores, both in person and online, from once-a-day gummy vitamins that have a compilation of important vitamins our bodies need to vitamin-specific supplements that pack a punch.
“I didn’t notice it right away, but after a few weeks of taking vitamins regularly I just felt sharper mentally. I also felt like I was thinking a little bit more clearly. Now I always buy my next supply of vitamins when I see I’m starting to run low.”
– Lindsay Malu Kido, CEO, Empower Pleasure –
From vitamin C to vitamin D, there are so many vitamins that our bodies need and utilize that a lot of us miss out on in our regular diets. This is why vitamin supplements can be such an excellent addition to the routine of someone looking back to reclaim a bit of their health.
“Think about how popular vitamin C gets during the cold-and-flu season. This is why I take vitamins year-round. I figure I want my immune system to be firing on all cylinders no matter the season or time of year.”
– Brooke Galko, Marketing Coordinator, PUR Cold Pressed Juice –
Don’t Neglect Your Mental Health
While many have long recognized and acknowledged the impact and role that our mental and emotional health has on our physical health, this theory has only gained more traction in the last several years. Mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are no longer seen as made-up or excuses. Rather, these are seen as very serious mental ailments that deserve medical attention and support.
“I think the pandemic really forced a lot more people to look at the reality of mental health in the world. I mean, it was obvious to so many people for decades before this all happened, but now no one can deny it anymore. The past few years have been extremely emotionally trying for everyone. That’s a fact.”
– Randee Machina, Director of Marketing, Simpli Pleasures –
With more and more attention being paid to the importance of mental health, even employers are making a point to encourage their staff to make use of PTO and vacation time in order to avoid burnout, depression, and mental exhaustion.
“We’ve completely restructured what we offer to our employees as far as mental health support. Some people live alone and are more isolated than ever right now. It’s been really hard for a lot of people, so we just provide what we can to make it easier mentally.”
– Christy Pyrz, Chief Marketing Officer, Paradigm Peptides –
Cutting Back on Alcohol
While alcohol can certainly provide a fun night out from time to time, too much of it can certainly be detrimental to our health. Alcohol is poison, after all, and ingesting too much of it too regularly will leave its mark. People who find themselves abusing alcohol early on in life often appear much older than they actually are. Not only this, but alcohol abuse can lead to a wide variety of internal organ damage that can take years off one’s life.
“Alcohol can ruin a life. It’s as simple as that. In fact, alcohol can ruin many lives through the medium of a single person. If you’re looking to get healthier, cutting out alcohol is certainly worth considering.”
– Lionel Mora, CEO, Neoplants –
If you think you may have a drinking or substance abuse problem, you may want to seek help finding a path toward sobriety. However, if you’re just considering your physical health, you can decide if you want to stop drinking altogether or if you’d rather just stick to a social drinking regimen. Either way, rescuing alcohol consumption can be a great way to improve your overall well-being.
“Keep in mind, alcohol is also a depressant. So in these times, when everyone is stressed, anxious, and on the verge of depression, alcohol can turn into a really slippery slope. This is especially the case if you already exhibit addictive tendencies, too.”
– Jeff Goodwin, Sr. Director, Performance Marketing & E-Commerce, Orgain –
Final Thoughts on Reclaiming Physical Health
Physical and mental wellness can look slightly different from person to person. Finding the right balance for your life, goals, and lifestyle will help you build the body you want, feel good about yourself mentally and physically, and add years to your life.
“In today’s world, we’ve all been experiencing new challenges that have affected our physical, mental, and social well-being. Many of us have felt tired and stressed, which is why wellness and self-care are more important than ever. Your wellness journey is an ongoing one, and YOU are in the driver’s seat!”
