Mens sana in corpore sano
We often ask ourselves what impact looking after ourselves has on our health and what beneficial psychological and mental effects it has.
I’m sure you’ve heard the famous quote from Roman poet Juvenal's Satire X, written between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Although the original meaning was related to the connection between the soul or spirit and the body, today it’s used to mean having a healthy mind to enjoy a healthy body.
Is it true?
It seems fairly logical that if our mind is in a state of emotional stability and mental health it can positively impact the way our body functions. And in turn we feel better when our body works: we smile more and enjoy each moment of our lives.
Numerous clinical studies support this assertion: look after your mind and you’ll feel better physically. But there’s also evidence of the opposite: when you look after your body your mind also receives stimuli that aid its stability and this translates into what each one of us in our own way calls happiness.
Why?
Mental balance establishes a state of physiological moderation and stabilisation that directly and positively impacts the body. To put it another way, when we’re not stressed, sad, anxious or angry, our body doesn't have to prepare for action and stores this energy for itself. This effect happens when we relax and free our mind to consider, decide or try to find solutions to day to day problems. When our mind relaxes, the body moves from a state of catabolism to one of anabolism, i.e., it doesn't spend but rather builds.
However, when a mental situation reduces its activity considerably, such as in cases of depression-related apathy or dysthymia, our body also suffers. Our mind disconnects due to lack of proper stimuli and stops synthesising as much as it needs.
States of high or very low mental demand therefore make our body lose vitality. That's when we feel more tired and prone to drowsiness, and medical problems can appear that previously went unnoticed.
How to look after your mind
Your mental state has a direct impact on your body. We therefore recommend you look after your mind and body equally.
- Take regular physical exercise:
- burning calories makes your body spend energy and have to keep on synthesising. In other words, if you spend energy you activate your body to continue to make and transform nutrients.
- Exercise leads to a greater capacity for resistance and boosts self-control and the capacity to suffer. The mind becomes stronger by training more, delivering on objectives and redoubling self-esteem.
- It also produces a great sense of well-being (more endorphins are produced when we exercise).
- Manage your emotions:
- A balanced mind is a happy, healthy mind. Knowing how to manage adverse feelings, establish priorities and boost assertiveness is essential to beating your daily battle.
- Control your diet:
- A varied diet helps you get the nutrients you need for your bodily functions.
- Develop new habits:
Always repeating the same routine does not encourage or boost the development of new personal skills. Get to know yourself better and dare to be happy!
