Are you living your best life? If not, it may help to understand that your physical and emotional health are closely interconnected.
If you find yourself struggling with your emotional well-being, you may want to consider your physical health and whether increasing your activity levels could provide a positive influence.
No one is happy all of the time or able to escape difficult experiences, but being emotionally healthy can go a long way in helping you enjoy more of what life has to offer – and to face its challenges more confidently.
How you define a sense of well-being may be slightly unique, but the following are a few of the more typical features:
Source: Mental Health Foundation
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. However, its effects may often be overlooked when it comes to your emotional well-being. Consider the following benefits:
Studies show people report increased feelings of contentment after being physically active. Exercise maintains your physical health but can also increase your energy and circulation, allowing your body and mind to function better.
Low intensity aerobic exercising for 30-35 minutes a day, 3-5 days a week has been found to improve moods, enthusiasm and alertness.
Activity and regular exercise can improve and enhance your feeling of well-being. Concentrating on the activity or movement itself helps bring focus to the present and may distract you from negative thoughts or worries.
If you haven’t been active, it doesn’t require strenuous effort. Research has found that even moderate amounts of lower-level activity can improve your outlook on life.
Self-esteem is a key indicator of good mental health and a barometer of your ability to cope with life’s stresses, according to research. Physical activity has been found to positively influence a person’s self-worth.
Maintaining a regular fitness routine leads to a sense of accomplishment. If you’re taking steps to keep in shape, you can’t help but start feeling better about yourself.
Our body’s defense to stress affects our emotional well-being. Research has discovered that highly active individuals tend to have lower stress when compared to those who are less active.
Exercise can also disrupt your stress by what the Mayo Clinic refers to as meditation in motion. After a great swim, run or playing a game, you may find you’ve forgotten many of the day’s annoyances.
Often a treatment for depression, research has found physical activity can reduce anxiety levels for those with mild symptoms. Another benefit is they feel empowered in managing their care.
Exercise may also reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Those aged 65+ who remained moderately to vigorously active were less likely to experience cognitive issues than those who were sedentary or only participated in light activities.
If you would like a few tips to get you moving toward better physical and emotional health, consider the following steps:
If you haven’t been active, you might want to see your medical team for a check-up before you begin. You’ll receive the green light on activity levels or how to modify exercises if needed. They can also provide tips to help get you started.
Is movement a challenge? Do you have a negative image of exercising? Have you tried to remain active in the past but always became bored? Start small. Attempt a 5-10 minute walk. Try dancing instead of an aerobics class. But don’t give up.
Eating well is a critical building block for good health. Choosing the right nutrients and limiting fats, sugars and salt is key. The best foods provide fuel, lower your risk of some chronic diseases and benefit your brain and emotional well-being.
Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining good health. It helps to heal and repair heart and blood vessels, maintain healthy hormonal balances and lowers your risk for certain health problems. Quality sleep can help improve your ability to:
Discover how the benefits of living in an independent living community can help you stay active and fit – while supporting good health.
Consider these advantages that can directly affect your physical and emotional well-being:
If you’re considering an independent living community to help you remain active and support your physical and emotional well-being, we hope you will visit one of our Ingleside communities.
We believe you’ll find it’s even easier to live an enriched life when you take advantage of all the benefits we offer, including:
For information on Ingleside at Rock Creek senior living community located in Washington, DC, please call (202) 846-2651 with questions or to schedule a personalized tour today.
For information on Ingleside’s Westminster at Lake Ridge senior living community located in Lake Ridge, Virginia, please call (703) 420-7105 with questions or to schedule a personalized tour today.
For information on Ingleside at King Farm senior living community located in Rockville, Maryland, please call (240) 414-8557 with questions or to schedule a personalized tour today.