© 2014 Dr. Sharon Norling
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-27027794-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();
Busy lives, stressful schedules, poor diets, inadequate sleep, not enough down time and lack of energy are all too common in our society today. With all of life’s obligations, something has got to give, and often it’s your fitness regimen. It can be challenging to find time to work out, but the long- and short-term health benefits make it a necessary aspect of achieving optimum health. It may help to view exercise and fitness as tools not just for the physical body. They are for the mind, body and spirit as well.
Mental Fitness
Just as physical exercise maintains body tone, strength and endurance, mental exercise has positive conditioning affects as well. The National Institute of Mental Health, Duke University and the National Institute on Aging support the findings that “mental and physical decline with aging is not inevitable.” Today I see more and more patients, ages 30 and older, who complain about short-term memory loss, difficulty focusing and concentrating and sluggish thinking. We need to re-energize and exercise our brain.
Eating six, small, well-balanced meals a day helps to maintain blood sugar levels and enables us to think clearly. Relief of stress, balanced biochemistry and healthy lifestyle changes promoting optimal health are foundations for mental fitness.
The first step is to take action! Overcome monotony and routine in your life as it generates mental and emotional lethargy and resignation. Our brains are wired to be curious, but sometimes our busy lives stifle or deny our natural curiosity.
Schedule these activities on your iPhone. Your brain will thank you in the form of new ideas, greater stamina and more passion for your life.
Emotional Fitness
Stress can be thought of as a message from our central nervous system. It’s telling us that enough is most definitely enough, and if we don’t provide some relief, it is going to take other systems down with it! Physical exercise is good for developing a lean body, strong muscles and a strong heart, but is has also been shown to help maintain emotional fitness as well! In fact, researchers at Duke University studied people suffering from depression for four months and found that 60 percent of the participants who exercised for 30 minutes just three times a week overcame their depression without using antidepressant medication.
Even more surprising, one study found that workouts as short as eight minutes in length could help alleviate feelings of sadness, tension and anger, along with improving resistance to disease in healthy people. Keep in mind that exercise also boosts confidence and reduces anxiety and stress, all of which contribute to psychological health and well-being. For example, Yoga participants often say they feel more centered and calm in addition to the physical benefits of stretching and building strength.
Emotional fitness starts by remembering what is important. Most of what stresses us are things that don’t matter in the long run. Being cut off in traffic, breaking a fingernail, not being able to buy the newest gadget and someone else’s rudeness are just not worth worrying about. Our family, our friends and our health are what really matter.
Daniel Goleman, author of the best-seller, Emotional Intelligence and his more recent book, Working with Emotional Intelligence, emphasizes that the stronger we are in our self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills, the more successful and healthy we are likely to be. That said, keep these tips in mind when maintaining emotional wellness:
Physical Fitness
In the past two decades, the proportion of children and teens in America who are overweight or obese has tripled. Nine million kids are carrying excess weight, with millions more at serious risk. Television and computer games have taken the place of physical activity for many American children; with more kids playing football on their PlayStation than they are on the playground.
If the trend continues, this generation of school children may be the first in modern times to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, an eight-year study of 13,000 people found that those who walked 30 minutes a day had a significantly lower risk of premature death than those who rarely exercised. In fact, a regular walking program can help reduce blood cholesterol, lower blood pressure, increase cardiovascular endurance, boost bone strength, burn calories and keep weight down. Best of all, walking is simple, free and convenient. If you are just beginning a fitness plan, walking is a great place to start:
Everyone can use help getting fit. Work with professionals who can support your path to health and fitness. All you have to do is begin, keep trying and remember that small steps bring big rewards.
Are your Mind, Body and Spirit fit?
Mental Fitness
Emotional Fitness
Physical Fitness
Spiritual Fitness
Written By: Dr. Sharon Norling, MBA