Have you heard of the mind and body connection?
The mind and body work hand in hand. It’s important to recognize that our emotional health can impact our body and that our physical health can impact our mind. The best way to care for our physical health is by creating awareness around our sleep, nutrition, and exercise. How much sleep are we getting? How are we moving our body each day? What foods are we eating?
Remember, the mind and body are both pieces of the same puzzle. In order to achieve overall wellness, all pieces must be there.
Sleep
Bedtime Routine
Have you ever struggled with "turning off" your brain at night?
This can make falling asleep very challenging. One of the reasons why this tends to happen is because our brains are working at full speed all day long, jumping from one task to the next. Then we expect it to come to a screeching stop at the end of the day. Before bedtime, you need to send your brain signals that it's time to slow down. Having a bedtime routine can achieve just that. It can be as simple or elaborate as you see fit. Check out the infographic below for helpful tips to incorporate into your bed time routine.
Sleep Resources
The Calm app is offering a variety of FREE wellness resources. Next time you find yourself having a hard time falling asleep, you can listen to a soothing meditation or even listen to a bedtime story! See the link below and try one out tonight.
Exercise
Yoga for Teens
Yoga is an excellent way to move your body! You are essentially doing two things that benefit your overall wellness: exercise and mindfulness!
Daily Check-Ins
With the increased screen time we've all experienced over the past few years, it is so important that we practice daily check-ins. Each morning ask yourself:
"How will I move my body today?"
Try your best to engage in some form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day. Go for a walk, try a new workout, or even dance in your room!
Nutrition
Don't Forget To Eat
Have you ever looked at the time and realized that you haven't eaten all day?
With so much on our hearts and minds these days it's easy to forget to eat. However, skipping meals is not good for your health. Just like you have to put gas in a car in order for it to run properly, you need to put food in your body for it to work at its best.
Here are a few tips to help you out:
Set reminders to eat during times that work best for your schedule .
Make eating breakfast part of your morning routine.
Plan and pack your meals in advance, just as you would to go to school or work.
Daily Choices
Much of the nutritional advice out there involves removing specific foods from your diet. This can, at times, become overwhelming and be unsustainable in the long run. Instead, try to be intentional about adding foods that will provide you with nutrients and energize your body. An easy way to do this is by challenging yourself to try different colored fruits or vegetables each day, week, or month. You can also set a goal for yourself to eat at least one fruit or vegetable a day.
Small daily choices can lead to big health benefits!
Check out this infographic from the American Heart Association: