Taking part in different wellness activities is one effective way to ensure a healthy mind and body. Aiming to achieve wellness can promote optimal body function and condition. Understanding the concept of wellness and what comes with it helps achieve balance in different aspects of health, mind, body, and life in general.
Know that wellness activities are more than nutrition and exercise. Other than its physical activities, it also involves other activities that aim to achieve holistic development through close attention to the different dimensions of wellness. These dimensions include physical, emotional, social, mental, and intellectual growth.
Here are the four simple wellness activity ideas you can try for healthy living.
1. Daily Exercise
Being physically active can help improve health and other functions in the body, such as maintaining brain health, weight management, and reducing the risk for diseases and other health conditions. Simply put, it can promote improved overall internal and external bodily functions.
Aside from the physical advantage, regular exercise promotes mental well-being, reducing negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression. Moreover, it aims to manage stress, commonly caused by daily life challenges effectively. Some simple exercises you can do include walking and running.
Walking is one of the simplest exercises you can do anytime and anywhere. All you need is a good pair of shoes, and you are ready to go! Doing a brisk walk, which aims at a hundred steps per minute, will help you burn about 500 calories per hour, or a simple morning walk with your pet can also do. Running, on the other hand, can help lower the risk for cardiovascular diseases and improve brain health as it produces chemical hormones for brain responses.
Remember that conditioning your mind and body is also important before doing any simple or rigorous exercises. Doing warm-up routines like stretching or taking in pre-workout powder and supplements can help your body be ready and energized throughout the chosen exercise routines.
2. Meditation
Achieving healthy living requires balance for physical health and well-being, and meditation can undeniably provide these benefits. Meditation improves attention and mindfulness needed to boost productivity in daily activities and overall health. Additionally, this wellness activity can help manage existing health conditions, including symptoms commonly affecting daily functions.
Some other benefits it can provide may include the reduction of negative emotions, better connection to self, increased tolerance, and improved quality of sleep. Although the ways and steps to practicing meditation may vary, the common steps in how to meditate may include the following steps:
- Find a peaceful and quiet place where you can sit comfortably.
- Set a timer for 10 minutes or more, depending on your liking and comfort.
- Find a stable position. Be it directly seated on the floor or a chair with relaxed feet. Just make sure that you feel utmost comfort during the whole session.
- Close your eyes and feel your body and breathing. Always bring back your attention to your breathing.
- Embrace your thoughts. Allow your mind to wander in varying thoughts.
- After a few deep breaths, close your meditation with prayers or self-motivation, aiming for peace and success in personal endeavors. Slowly open your eyes and quietly leave the meditation site.
3. Journaling
Journaling allows you to express your mind through writing regularly. To be mentally and physically healthy, self-expression should be done and regularly practiced. Aside from recognizing your thoughts and emotions, writing can also improve interpersonal connections and relationships, as it regulates emotions about yourself and others. Some also write to find and generate solutions to problems, although this may not apply to all.
Taking care of your mental health can equate to healthy physical health. When stress and negative emotions are well-managed, overall health is positively affected. Daily writing about emotions and experiences also allows the body to boost the immune system and reduces stress hormones that can affect numerous body and brain functions.
4. Connect with Nature
Connecting with nature often includes relaxing and adventurous activities you can enjoy. Spending some time with nature promotes better emotional processes, reduction of blood pressure, relaxation of muscle tensions, and reduction of stress hormones. Outdoor wellness activities related to nature not only provide peace and calmness during the action but also enhance physical health.
Activities enjoying nature include hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, cycling, and paddleboarding are just some activities that can keep an active body. Keeping your mind and body active with nature can help achieve stronger bones and muscles, improve heart health, and can reduce risks for respiratory problems.
Aside from these adventures, trying simple outdoor wellness activities like gardening, nature spotting, or picnics are also great ways to connect with nature.
Conclusion
Healthy living can come with wellness activities that help an improved mind, body, and overall wellnesses. Trying on different wellness activities can mean exploring ways to improve mind and body functions. Of course, you can still try many other activities not included on the list, but remember that what makes these activities worthwhile is enjoying and finding happiness in whatever you do, thus leading to a healthy and quality life.
