Holistic Health: The Mind-Body Connection

When it comes to obtaining overall health and wellness, you cannot separate the mind and body. The two are intrinsically connected. When you’re not feeling well physically, it impacts you mentally and emotionally. Likewise, when your mental health is suffering, your physical health usually suffers as well.

Living a healthy lifestyle will leave you feeling more energized and happier. Not to mention, your quality of life will be greatly improved. When you are working toward better mental health and desirous of improved physical health, a multifaceted mind-body approach is needed. A harmonious and balanced mind-body symmetry will help to establish good mental health, all the while reducing the risk of disease and physical impairments.

Physical Health vs. Mental Health

Studies have shown the connection between how the mind and body positively react when certain activities and practices are implemented in life. For example, practices such as meditation, mindfulness and other relaxation techniques are known to help combat physical ailments such as chronic pain, heart disease and high blood pressure. Similarly, regular physical exercise is proven to reduce anxiety, depression and negative moods while improving self-esteem and cognitive function.

A Holistic Approach to Wellness

A holistic view of wellness considers all bodily systems working together to optimize their comprehensive functioning. This holistic view understands how nutrition impacts the brain. It embraces the importance of regular rest and proper sleep as critical to cognition and alertness. A holistic view recognizes that healthy foods are necessary to ingest to fuel the body and the brain. A mind-body holistic view means taking care of all the aspects of your life and making good and healthy decisions from a well-rounded perspective.

Mind-Body Health

It’s easy to mistake good mental health for the absence of mental illness. Likewise, the misapprehension that good physical health is the absence of illness is not correct either. This oversimplification does not present the full picture of good mental and physical health. Mentally and physically healthy people encounter the same struggles and life challenges all people face. The difference is those with good mental and physical health possess the knowledge, skills and guidance to not only cope with life’s challenges but overcome them. Starting the journey toward better mental and physical health is a noble endeavor you won’t regret. However, upholding that journey not only requires the right practices but realistic goals, strong determination and regular maintenance.

Healthy Mindset and Behaviours

You can be empowered to create new lifelong habits by investigating the psychology and root causes behind common issues that prevent change. A health coach/counselor is a great place to start to receive expert advice on how to develop lasting change as it relates to your health, mindset, and behaviors. Focusing on a functional and holistic approach using evidence-based principles for lifestyle and diet can help you achieve health and lifestyle goals. Don’t wait! Start today and ‘take the wheel’ in your health journey by building new habits and facilitating long-term change.

5 Holistic Health Tips for Your Body and Mind

TIP #1 – Eat Well, Feel Well

Healthy foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains contain a plethora of nutritious goodness for holistic wellness. Essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and essential omega fats are found in these food groups and are vital for good physical health. Eating the right food provides us with the energy and raw materials necessary to carry out important bodily functions. With a nutritious diet, your body can function optimally to properly clear out waste, stave off illness, and keep your internal organs healthy and muscles strong.

TIP #2 – Get Quality Sleep

Healthy sleep habits impact you both physically and mentally. Studies on the relationship between sleep and mental health reveal that insufficient sleep obstructs our ability to regulate emotions. If our sleep is deprived over long periods, we can be at risk for conditions such as anxiety and depression. Similarly, lack of sleep has been linked to chronic health problems including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and obesity.

TIP #3 – Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness involves practices that develop an awareness of the present moment. Practices such as meditation, deep breathing, body relaxation, guided imagery and mind-calming can reduce stress and even help manage chronic pain symptoms.

TIP #4 – Exercise Regularly

Physical exercise has an impact on our appetite and our rest, thus affecting our minds and body. Exercise increases blood circulation to our brains and influences our bodies’ physiologic reactivity to stress. Regular exercise has been linked to a reduced risk of anxiety and depression. Incorporating an exercise routine keeps the body and mind in good health.

TIP #5 – Pursue Leisure Activities

Leisure activities give you a break from the regular grind of obligated must-do and have-to. Integrating leisure time into your life is vital as it can increase dopamine production in your brain’s reward center. If you’ve never pursued leisure activities, it’s not too late to develop one or two. Please note, watching T.V. or scrolling through social media threads is NOT considered a healthy or holistic leisure activity! Here is a short list of activities to consider:

• Make music by singing or learning to play an instrument. Music can calm your mind and slow your heart rate.
• Cook, bake, or learn how to if you don’t already know. This can stimulate creativity in your life satisfying your cravings and nourishing your body and mind.
• Take up writing. Journaling or writing stories provides the opportunity to process complex feelings and record life experiences. Writing can foster greater gratitude and thankfulness in your life. It can also help you list out priorities, concerns, and problems in life so you can see them clearly and address them.

Connect with our Holistic Therapy Toolkit

While these 5 tips can offer some holistic health benefits, self-administered methods may not provide the help you need. If improving your mental and physical health is something you need help with and you are interested in a holistic approach, Online-Therapy.com is here to help.

When you sign up to work with us, you get to choose a therapist you feel comfortable with, and you can develop a personalized approach that supports your needs to bring about the changes you desire.

At Online-Therapy.com we offer an integrated and holistic approach to wellness and wholeness. Our platform includes regular sessions with a therapist via phone, text chat or video (couple counseling will be video only), worksheet support, journaling, and yoga. Our ongoing support means you have access to the professional advice you need every day, guiding you to better mental health and wellness.