Finding The Perfect Balance: Self-care & Physical Fitness
Self-care is something every American needs to learn, but it can be difficult to find the time or energy after a long and stressful day. When your schedule is jam-packed, it’s not always easy to take a timeout to focus on your mental health needs. That’s why it’s important to find ways to incorporate those self-care activities with your workout routine. This can help boost your self-confidence and will allow you to take all aspects of your health into consideration every day instead of having to neglect some things in order to focus on others.
Fortunately, it’s not too hard to do once you find a rhythm. Because self-care can be just about anything that helps you feel good in a healthy way, you can create a specific game plan for your needs, such as mixing yoga and meditation to get in a workout for both your mind and your body or taking a drive to a scenic spot for a hike. Get creative and think outside the box for ways you can combine your health needs; not only will this help you maximize your workouts, but it will also help you save time, which will reduce stress and anxiety. Below are a few tips on how to get started.
Keep Your Gut in Check
The human body is host to all sorts of microorganisms and bacteria, many of which are essential to keep our immune system in check and our bodies at a healthy weight. The gut, for instance, is where various healthy and unhealthy bacteria dwell, and this microbiome is an important part of regulating our moods and overall health. There are many ways you can keep your microbiome happy, including eating fermented foods or foods with probiotics, getting daily exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight. The more you can do to ensure that your gut is in good shape, the more you’ll be doing to help your mental and physical health bloom.
Mix Physical with Mental
Your physical and mental health are linked in numerous ways; studies have shown that exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce feelings of depression, for instance. That’s why yoga and meditation go hand-in-hand, and millions of Americans have had success with combining the two on a regular basis to help boost their mental health and keep their bodies feeling great. The wonderful thing about these activities is that they can be done almost anywhere, which means you’ll have a way to reduce stress in the moment.
Get in a Workout… At Home
Signing up for a gym membership and heading to a fitness facility for a quick workout probably sounds like a great idea, but in practice, it’s not always ideal. So, instead of paying a monthly fee for a service you may not use, why not take that money and invest in a home gym? Since you can easily get started with some basic equipment, the upfront cost isn’t as much as you might believe (Garage Gym Lab breaks down the cost for a budget gym, which totals at around $1,000). In addition to some gear, consider hiring a handyman to help you install some outlets for your new equipment, as well as put down flooring that’s more conducive to exercise. You can expect to pay $132 - $510 per project for a handyman in San Diego.
Get Away
One of the most frustrating things about stress is that it’s often right where we left it; at work, at home, or at school, waiting for us to return the next day and deal with it a little longer. That’s why it’s crucial to get away now and then, to clear your mind and refresh. Even people who have a packed schedule can appreciate how much better they feel when they take a break, so consider taking a short road trip on the weekend to go for a hike, or head to the nearest lake or pool for a swim when things become overwhelming. Taking yourself outside of your usual zones can be hugely beneficial when it comes to feeling better.
Make Your Home a Haven
Fitness isn’t just about working out; it’s also about how you feel and your overall health. When your home isn’t safe or healthy, you’ll feel the effects immediately, so look around to see what can be improved. Many of us are living with clutter and don’t even realize it, or we’re sleeping beneath a dusty ceiling fan that’s hurting the air quality in the bedroom. Cleaning and getting organized can do wonders for both your mental and your physical health.
Self-care and physical fitness are two sides of the same coin, so it’s important to treat them as such. With a good plan, you can help your mind and body get in shape no matter how much you have on your plate, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost your self-confidence and esteem.