by MARNÉ AMOGUIS
Have you ever realized things are easier when you’re happy? When you’re in a good mood, stressful situations don’t seem so stressful, and problems don’t seem as significant. Your mental and physical health aren’t two separate systems; when you have a healthier body, your mind tends to be healthy, and having a healthy mind helps you keep your body healthy.
Stress plays a key role in your mental and physical health. It can lead to serious illnesses, such as heart disease and stroke. The way you treat your body can have a significant impact on your mind. Here’s how a healthier lifestyle can lead to happiness.
Eating Well
When you eat better, you feel better. You may have noticed that you start to feel sluggish after lunch, especially if you had a big, unhealthy lunch. Everything you put in your body can impact your mind. The foods you eat are the nutrients for every part of your body, including your brain. Food helps fuel you, so you can say it also fuels your mind.
You shouldn’t put the wrong oil in your car because you know how detrimental it can be to the entire system, so why put bad food in your body, especially knowing it can impact your physical and mental health?
Eating well also encompasses how often you eat and how large your portions are. Eating more fruits and vegetables can keep your mind feeling alert and happy through a long, stressful day.
In addition to eating well, we must consider your gut. Believe it or not, your gut has more impact on your mental health than you think since it’s responsible for keeping your hormones in balance. Eat fiber-rich probiotic and prebiotic foods to keep your gut healthy so they can regulate your hormones properly and keep your mind healthier. If you still struggle with getting sufficient nutrients, consider taking daily vitamins to ensure your body is getting what it needs.
Exercise
Have you ever noticed how great you feel after a run? Working out doesn’t just accomplish weight loss; it’s targeting your entire body, including your mind, to make you healthier.
Physically active people are less likely to have memory problems or memory-related disorders because working out is healthy for the mind. It also produces endorphins, which are hormones responsible for regulating your mood and making you feel happy. Exercise increases your serotonin levels, which can improve sleep, and send oxygen all over your body, so your brain can be even healthier.
Exercise doesn’t have to be vigorous like a run in the woods to help you feel happier. Instead, consider a mindful activity like yoga that can help you get in tune with your body and how you feel so you can reduce stress while increasing oxygen to your brain.
Stress
You know the effects of stress because you’ve experienced fatigue after a stressful week at work. Stress doesn’t only impact our bodies by making us feel ill or reducing our immunity; it also directly affects mental health. Stress and anxiety induce fatigue and general unhappiness because we can’t focus on the things that make us happy when we’re stressed.
Learning to manage stress and anxiety can help you feel happier, but it isn’t easy for everyone, especially individuals in high-pressure jobs. Everyone has a way to help them manage their stress, so you must find yours. Experiment with different ways to find peace. You can go on a hike or set aside time at the end of every day to hang out with your family.
When you’re not as stressed, you can focus on the parts of life you enjoy most, helping you stay happy every day.
Sleep
There’s a reason you’re supposed to sleep for eight hours a night; sleep is good for your body and mind. Sleeping allows your body and mind to rest and repair. You’re less likely to get stressed or frustrated after a good night’s sleep. Not only that, but lack of sleep compromises all of your bodily systems, which can lead to weight gain, stress, and decreased productivity – all things that can impact your happiness.
When you don’t get enough sleep, you might feel irritable all day. However, when you sleep well, you feel energized and productive. If you’re not getting adequate sleep every night, then your mind isn’t getting the proper rest it needs to regulate your mood. You can improve your sleep by taking a look at your sleeping environment. For example, if you sleep in a certain position, you may want to look into getting a pillow for your sleep position to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
You should also take a look at the habits that affect your sleep. For example, it can be beneficial to set a time every night before bed when you stop scrolling social media and start getting ready for bed so you can train your brain to know when it’s time to wind down. Getting the right amount of quality sleep won’t automatically make you a happier person, but it can give you enough rest to tackle the day head-on, which can lead to happiness.
Fewer Health Concerns
When you’re unhealthy, you might have health concerns, such as diabetes or stress on the joints. With healthier lifestyle habits, such as exercising and eating right, you’ll have fewer health concerns to worry about now and in the future. By reducing the number of stressors you have in your life, you’ll feel happier and more inspired to continue living a healthy life.
Gratitude
A healthier lifestyle isn’t just about having a healthier body; it’s about making your mind healthy, too. By practicing gratitude, you can remind yourself daily of the important things in your life that you’re thankful to have. By listing all of the things that make you happy, you can change the way your mind thinks about the world.
Practicing gratitude is easy; all you have to do is grab a notebook and pen and write down everything you’re grateful for. It’s best to do this at night or in the morning when you wake up so you can promote calmness and happiness at the start or end of your day.
Being Healthy Makes You Happy
While we can’t guarantee that every healthy person is happy, being healthy can improve your chances of being happy. Not only that but being happy also makes you healthy. Remember, your mental health and physical health work together to keep your body and mind strong. You can’t have one without the other, so make sure you focus on activities that can keep both healthy and strong no matter how old you are.
Marné Amoguis
Marné Amoguis holds a B.A. in International Business from UC San Diego. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, playing music, and hiking.
