How your Mental Health can Help You Achieve your Fitness Goals

By: Angelina M. Fucci

Introduction

The connection between mental and physical health is complex and diverse. It is generally recognized that regular exercise and physical activity can enhance both physical and mental health. Exercise has been proven to improve mood, reduce signs of anxiety and stress, and boost mental skills. Additionally, keeping a healthy lifestyle that includes daily exercise and a balanced diet can minimize the risk of developing chronic diseases and enhance general health, both of which can benefit mental health. The connection between fitness and mental health will be discussed, along with the advantages of physical activity for mental health and methods for incorporating exercise and healthy lifestyle habits into daily life for increased mental well-being.

Individuals degree of physical health can be significantly enhanced by improving their mental health. There are various ways that can be used to enhance physical and mental health. Although having enough restful sleep is crucial for emotional and physical well-being, developing appropriate sleep habits can have a substantial impact on mental health. Using stress-reduction strategies like yoga, deep breathing, or mindfulness meditation can also assist in stress relief and reduction. Keeping up social relationships and asking for help when necessary can provide individuals with a sense of belonging and encourage good mental health. People can improve their mental health and, as a result, their fitness levels by incorporating these methods into their daily lives. Although beginning a fitness journey might be challenging, it is an essential step towards improved physical health and general well-being.

Methods to Achieve your Fitness Goals

Setting a Goal

Some methods that can help individuals starting their fitness journey to better their mental health are by setting achievable goals that can vary from small goals to long-term goals. Goals such as losing a certain amount of weight can be a long-term goal and can be broken down into smaller goals by changing your diet or by hitting ten thousand steps a day. This will help an individual gain motivation towards their goals. According to Kai Aloia (2023), "Set small, attainable goals. Strive to reach each goal one at a time, so you are not overwhelmed and you can keep yourself motivated" (Aloia 1).

Being Part of Activities you Enjoy

Individuals who choose to participate in physical activities that they personally enjoy will increase their chances in continuing their fitness journey, and strengthen their mental health. According to Josephine Booth (2023), “higher levels of moderate or intense physical activity had a small but detectable association with decreases in depressive symptoms and emotional difficulties” (Booth 4). Choosing an activity you love will increase your chances of sticking with it, and you will also discover new activities that you will gain an interest for, and expand your physical activity.

Creating a Plan or Schedule

Make exercise a priority in your schedule and establish a plan for when and where you will do it. To construct a strategy that is specifically designed for you, think about working with a personal trainer or fitness coach to help you achieve your goals and have another individual hold you accountable.

Moving at your own pace

Individuals who begin their fitness journey tend to believe that you have to go at a fast pace, which is not the case. This can most certainly increase stress and anxiety, which will result in failing to reach your goals. The intensity and duration of your workouts should be gradually increased after setting small, attainable targets. Once you are at a pace in which you are beginning to succeed and reach your goals, challenge yourself and go further than what you did before and reach for a higher point of success in which you didn’t envision yourself before.

Finding your True Support System

Be with individuals who will encourage you on your fitness goal, such as active friends or a supportive fitness community. This will most certainly help you reach your goals, and help your mental health as your peers are encouraging you to reach to the peak of success. As times may be hard throughout your journey, you can rely on your friends to help you through those tough times and realize that you are never alone and you are so much more than what you see yourself as.

Holding yourself Accountable/Tracking your Progress

By recording your workouts, taking measurements, or utilizing a fitness app, you can monitor your progress. Making progress can inspire you and keep you on track. As individuals tend to see that they are reaching their goals in their fitness journey, they will continue to keep working and achieve more goals. But individuals that are not reaching their goals right away, they will get discouraged but it is also encouraged to find other methods to try and reach for your goals, rather than giving up on yourself and increasing your chances of mental health issues.

Conclusion

Although beginning a fitness journey can be difficult, it is a crucial step towards improved physical health and general well-being. You can begin your fitness journey and improve your physical condition by setting attainable goals, finding an activity or sport you enjoy doing, establishing a schedule, starting gradually, finding a support system, and documenting your progress. Working on these methods can help strengthen your mental health and help you become a better individual, both physically and mentally.

Resources

Aloia, K. (2023, March). What are Achievable Fitness Goals. Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://wrcameronwellness.org/blog/the-importance-of-setting-realistic-fitness-goals-for-the-new-year/

Booth, J. (2023, March 1). Physical activity can help mental health in pre-teen years. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230301210307.htm

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