Movember helps to bring awareness to not only men’s physical health, but also men’s mental health. In addition to anxiety and depression, men can also struggle with eating disorders, low self-esteem and negative body images.
Often our physical well being impacts our mental well being and vice versa. It really doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
Here are three things men (and people in general) can do to help improve their physical and mental well-being.
Get Enough Sleep
Most of us don’t get enough sleep and there are a lot of legitimate reasons why: work, stress, kids, too much caffeine etc… the list goes on. Not enough sleep, especially on a long term basis, can have negative effects on both your health and mood. You have a harder time regulating your moods, it is difficult to concentrate, it weakens your immune system and can affect your body’s ability to perform optimally.
Try to develop good sleep habits by creating a regular routine and schedule that prepares you for bed. Go to bed at around the same time every night and aim for about 7-9 hours of sleep. If you have a hard time falling asleep, try to calm your body and mind by reading a book, meditating, listening to a sleep story before bed or talking to a sleep specialist. Whatever you do, try to be consistent to develop a good circadian rhythm.
Give Your Body the Nutrients It Needs
You only have one body, so it is important to look after it the best you can by giving it the nourishment it needs. You don’t have to be a saint all the time, but make sure you are eating nutrient dense foods such as healthy proteins, healthy fats and lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Enjoy “not so healthy” foods and alcohol, but in limited moderation. When you eat well, you feel well and that can impact how you feel physically, but also mentally.
Click here to learn more about how to fuel your body.
Move Your Body
As we know, regular exercise is important for building a strong body, maintaining a healthy body weight and preventing diseases, but it also offers a host of other benefits. Regular physical activity makes us feel good, because exercise releases euphoric hormones, while also suppressing stress-inducing hormones. This can help reduce anxiety and depression.
Exercise can also be a great avenue for socializing. Whether you are on a team or have a regular exercise buddy, these social activities create meaningful personal connections, which is very important for our mental wellbeing.