People who are physically healthy are able to meet the demands of daily life and are free of illness and disease. Physical health includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Physical fitness (getting one hour of vigorous physical activity per day) (CDC, 2020)
Nutrition (eating recommended amount of fruits, vegetables, carbs, protein, and dairy)
Sleep (7-8 hours per night)
Hygiene (brushing teeth, taking showers, washing clothes, etc.)
Being free of disease and illness (go for regular checkups with physicians, dentists, eye doctors, etc.)
Avoiding drugs/alcohol
Physical health has been known to affect mental health in the following ways:
Improve mood
Reduce anxiety and depression
Improve self-esteem
Improve cognitive function and focus (Greer, 2016)
Workout routines help you to be more disciplined
Physical health has been known to affect mental health in the following ways:
Team sports help to develop empathy and teamwork
Make new friends through shared interests
Improved self-confidence (more willing to connect with others)
Makes you a happier friend
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Physical Activity. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/index.htm
Greer, T. L., Trombello, J. M., Rethorst, C. D., Carmody, T. J., Jha, M. K., Liao, A., Grannemann, B. D., Chambliss, H. O., Church, T. S., & Trivedi, M. H. (2016). Improvements in psychosocial functioning and health-related quality of life following exercise augmentation in patients with treatment response but non-remitted major depressive disorder: Results from the TREAD study. Depression and Anxiety, 33(9), 870–881. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22521