While the habits of our lives have changed and, there’s a lot of existential and collective anxiety right now. The mind and body are not separate; they are intimately connected. Taking care of your mind through stress-reduction practices like meditation and exercise can have profound effects on your immune system and your digestive health. Vice versa, eating well, moving and meditating are physical ways of transforming your mental state. We forget how much power we have to shift our mental state and perspective with physical changes.
A “First Aid Kit” for mind-body healing with tools we can reach for whenever we need, here are 3 recommendations for your kit.
I recommend:
- A simple breathing practice. This can even be straight from your bed. It’s just a 5-minute meditation to start the day. Inhale for 5, hold for 2, exhale 5, hold 2, and repeat. Meditation can be an intimidating word; it doesn’t have to be fancy, but it really sets your mind for the day.
- Getting outside. As simple as it sounds, even just taking a short walk resets your sense of the day and is extremely grounding. Taking a simple walk around the block before you just go straight from bed to starting work at home. Or at the end of your day, simply finish with a stroll to the local store for food or an after-dinner snack.
- Movement. The body was designed to process emotions through physical movement. This doesn’t have to be going to the gym. It can be a yoga class online, jump squats, or even grab a skipping rope! Movement is a great way to process emotional energy. The more you move, the more you balance blood sugar; the more you balance blood sugar, the better your mental health; the better your mental health, the better you feel.
There are many things you can add to your own ‘First Aid Kit’ that suits your lifestyle, this is a gentle reminder to take care of your mind- body by having self-awareness.
