The mind and body are connected. For example, stress at work can cause pressure and tension in your muscles and could lead to tiredness, while eating junk food can negatively affect your mood.
To remain in peak condition throughout the years, you must improve both your mental and physical health each day. To help you do so, here are five ways to care for your mind and body.
- Book a Relaxing Massage
If you want to loosen up your tense muscles and calm your mind, you shouldn’t hesitate to book a relaxing massage. If work is getting you down or you are struggling to cope with endless household tasks, a Heaven and Earth massage might be exactly what you need to improve your mind and body. For example, you could treat yourself to a full body massage, Swedish massage, or even a crystal healing massage.
2. Energize Your Body
While physical activity will require a great deal of effort, it can also ensure you are bursting with energy the next day. What’s more, the release of endorphins can boost your mood and support your mental health. You should, therefore, embark on exercises that will energize your body, such as:
Aim to work out three to five times per week, enjoying a mixture of cardiovascular activity and strength training.
3. Regularly Take a Walk
Taking regular walks can help you to enjoy some mental clarity, as you will be able to breathe in some fresh air, surround yourself with nature and enjoy a break away from the chaos of work and home life. Plus, you will be able to stretch your legs, burn calories, and get your heart pumping, meaning you will return home feeling fitter, happier and healthier.
4. Enjoy Plenty of Sleep
Sleep can positively impact your physical and mental health. After all, it can help your muscles to relax and recover after a busy workout and it can also switch-off your brain after a hectic day so that you can enjoy lower stress levels and an improved mood. While not everyone will have the same sleep requirements, it is recommended that healthy adults enjoy between seven to nine hours of shuteye per night to support both their mental and physical health.
5. Treat Yourself to Dark Chocolate
Do you class yourself as a chocolate lover? If so, you will be happy to discover that a little bit of dark chocolate can work wonders for your mind and body. By treating yourself to a square or two of dark chocolate, which contains more than 70% cocoa, it could:
- Reduce your stress levels
- Decrease inflammation in the body
- Boost your mood and memory
- Improve your immune system
It’s believed the flavonoids in dark chocolate contain potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents, which can benefit a person’s brain and cardiovascular health. So, it is the perfect snack to enjoy whenever you’re feeling a little hungry, but it should be consumed in moderation.