Whether you lead an active lifestyle or not, the likelihood of sustaining a physical injury at some point in life, however big or small, is pretty high. They can come in all forms of trauma, strain, broken bone and sprain, and it can happen with zero foresight in many cases. Age, activity level, sporting technique and genetics all play a part in determining how well our bodies cope with both exercise and the potential for injury. But it’s the aftermath that we have to pay close attention to if we are to recover fully and get back to optimum levels of function.
We can actually categorise most injuries into one of three main types of athletic injury; Acute, Overuse and Chronic.
Walking is BRILLIANT for you. And we don’t mean just a casual saunter down the road 😀 We mean a good, energising walk, using your arms, and lasting for at least 30 minutes. It is the perfect activity to do alongside your regular exercise and here’s why…
It’s always good to mix up the type of exercise you do throughout the week. This will help you to create the best overall conditioning for your body and develop the various physical components of health.
‘Health’ is the general term used for several individual factors that make up a person’s overall wellbeing. It is considered a combination of good physical, mental, social, nutritional and medical wellbeing. It’s important to give some attention to all aspects of our health in order to encourage the best possible quality of life within our own boundaries and circumstances.
The more you can visualise how you want your morning to look, the better. It REDUCES STRESS, SETS THE TONE for your day and also gives you a REASON TO GET UP when the alarm goes off, rather than hitting snooze. If you have kids, the school run or work to get to, then it’s pretty much laid out for you – but you can still enrich the time by establishing a few simple habits. If you have a little more freedom in your mornings, then creating a morning routine for yourself could positively impact your wellbeing and productivity for the whole day – not just the morning.
YOUR BODY IS YOUR TEMPLE.
How many times have you heard that? Well, if we’re privileged enough to have one that not only works but works well, we have a personal duty to take care of it with the utmost respect.
Respect for your body in a physical sense comes in many forms; Nourishing it from the inside out with good food and hydration. Keeping it warm when it’s cold, and cool when it’s hot. Looking after your eyes, nose and ears to keep your senses sharp. Keeping your muscles well fuelled and your bones supported and healthy. The list goes on.
‘Energy in – energy out’. The most basic way to describe weight maintenance. ‘Energy in’ is the energy we put into our body in the form of calories. This comes from the food we eat. ‘Energy out’ is the calories used by our body to perform basic bodily functions and other physical activities. So one would assume that putting too much energy in and not enough out again, would end up in an imbalance, and therefore perhaps some weight gain. A simple equation! BUT, are there some other aspects of life that could play a role in our weight maintenance? The answer is yes.
There’s no doubt about it, the more mindful we are about living a healthy lifestyle, the more longevity we likely have, for a strong, happy heart.
As many of you will have seen on both TV and online, Public Health England’s Better Health campaign has been a beacon for anybody in need of advice and support on staying mentally and physically strong during the pandemic. It’s important to recognize that this is a unique situation we find ourselves in and that feeling anxious or uncertain about things is completely normal when dealing with change; however temporary it may be.
By staying at home we are helping to keep not only ourselves safe, but others too. We should always remind ourselves that staying home is a positive action towards getting life back on track to a more familiar setting. However, staying at home can come with its own, more personal challenges, as we know.
Lockdown can be socially isolating, financially difficult, as well as impactful on our physical health and fitness levels. Everybody will be experiencing this current outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) differently. We may even go through several waves of feeling better or worse about our situation. This is a very natural response. If you currently feel like you’re struggling with your mental health however, there are many things you can do to help support yourself and your loved ones.
Looking after your mind is just as important as looking after your body, and a great place to start is by getting a personalized Mind Plan from Every Mind Matters. Answer a few simple questions to receive NHS-approved suggestions for you to try. To help deal with stress, boost your mood and feel more in control.
Mental Wellbeing: Protect and Improve your Mental Health
The Every Mind Matters website has lots of other resources to help you protect and improve your mental health. Including 10 useful and practical tips for maintaining good Mental Wellbeing While Staying At Home. You can also find lots more information on stress, anxiety, sleep and low mood by following the links on the Every Mind Matters homepage.
Don’t forget that staying active is also a fantastic way to maintain both physical and mental health. Whether it’s completing an on-demand home workout or going for a short walk. Using a combination of techniques to keep active can have a wonderfully positive impact on our wellbeing.
Keep moving, keep warm and keep it fun! That’s the main thing. (more…)