What is physical wellness?
Physical wellness is a state of physical health that allows us to do everyday activities without undue fatigue or physical stress. Physical wellness is achieved through adequate and proper nutrition, a suitable exercise regime, and sufficient rest to go alongside your physical activity.
What is the importance of physical wellness?
Being physically active on a regular basis is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Regular physical activity improves your brain health, helps with weight management, reduces disease, strengthens bones and muscles, and improves your ability to do everyday activities
There are many ways that an induvial can optimise their physical wellness, including.
Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight can contribute to many physical health issues such as back problems and heart disease. Achieving a healthy weight can be supported by eating
Maintain regular exercise
Regular exercise is crucial to maintain the best possible physical wellness. Aim to achieve around 30 minutes of exercise 3 to 4 times a week. Pick a physical activity that you enjoy as you will more than likely stick to this routine and insert it into your daily schedule.
Incorporate strength training into your exercise routine
Building muscle is an important part of physical wellness. Aim to perform resistance training 2 to 3 times a week to build muscle and maintain a strong heart.
Create good sleep habits
Sleep is one of the most important elements of physical wellness. Achieving 7 to 9 hours per night will support you on your physical wellness journey. If you have trouble getting to sleep, create a bedtime routine that works for you. Simple tricks such as listening to white noise or soothing music can help calm your body and mind and help you fall asleep.
What are the benefits of physical wellness?
Exercise is vital for maintaining good health and is a powerful tool for the prevention and management of mental and physical illnesses. Moreover, physical exercise offers a multitude of positive benefits from mood boosting to improved cognitive function.
Physical health benefits
The benefits of exercising for mental and physical health can help prevent health issues such as Type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, and coronary heart disease. Regular exercise improves lung capacity, helps the heart and blood circulatory system become more efficient, and can help raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) , the “good” cholesterol and decreases ‘bad cholesterol’ (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), which helps to keep your blood flowing smoothly.
Weight bearing and resistance exercises are also important for building and maintaining bone density, with physical inactivity linked with higher risk of osteoporosis. Exercise is a protective factor for neurodegeneration and is important for overall brain health; regular exercise plays a key role in cognitive functioning, such as attention and memory, and mental alertness, which in turn improves our capacity for emotional regulation and psychological resilience, contributing to better mental health outcomes.
Mental health benefits
A natural mood booster, exercise has been shown to effectively reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Neurochemical factors of exercise include reduced levels of stress hormones in the body, such as adrenaline and cortisol, and the release of chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins serve as an analgesic, reducing our perception of stress and pain, and they also produce positive feelings.
Exercise also improves sleep quality and duration, which is crucial to our physical and mental wellbeing. Sleep allows our bodies to repair and heal; when we are sleeping, our brains consolidate memories, process information and eliminate toxic waste. Poor sleep is linked with physical problems such as a weakened immune system and reproductive issues, in addition to decreased brain functioning and mood disorders. Zevo Health hosts a range of wellbeing trainings, including sleep, which are designed to enhance the wellbeing of every attendee.
Psychological and behavioural factors also influence the emotional benefits of exercise; the sense of accomplishment can lead to increased self-esteem and body confidence, which may cascade into engagement in other positive health practices and mitigate maladaptive behaviours such as social withdrawal.
