Healthy Lifestyle

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it's important to remember our physical

health affects our mental health and

vice versa

what we do to our bodies makes a big

difference to how we feel

physical activity diet alcohol smoking

and drugs can all affect our mental

health and well-being

in different ways so let's talk about

them

physical activity releases feel-good

hormones called endorphins

which help us sleep and feel better it

also improves our physical fitness

which tends to make people feel better

in general even small amounts of regular

physical activity can improve your

mental well-being

especially if it's doing something you

enjoy physical activity is even a

recommended treatment for some types of

depression

you can get active at your own pace in

your own way

there's no need to join a gym or even

spend any money

simple small changes in our day to day

can make all the difference

taking a brisk walk at lunchtime or

walking to get where we're going

getting active in the garden or cycling

once or twice a week are great options

if there's a type of activity you used

to enjoy think about how you could pick

it up again

for example there are lots of local

groups and sports teams

open to all levels of ability what's

more studies show that time in green

spaces

is beneficial so head to your local park

if you can

if you need a little help fitting more

physical activity into your day

try the active10 app it helps you get

short bursts of brisk walking into your

day

there's also the fantastic couch to 5k

app

which will get you up and running in

just nine weeks

eating better can play a big role in our

health and well-being

it won't come as a surprise to learn

that what we eat and how much

plays a big part in our physical health

which can impact our mental health too

ideally we should aim to eat a healthy

balanced diet with plenty of fruit and

veg

it's important to keep an eye on your

calories and minimize

foods that are high in sugar fat and

salt

for helpful tips on eating a better diet

check out the 1u

website alcohol caffeine tobacco

and even drugs may seem tempting when

we're stressed or tired

and when we use them to try and cope the

idea of stopping them can feel like it

would make things even harder

but they can cause more problems than

they solve especially long

term all these habits can complicate our

sleep patterns

and affect how anxious and depressed we

feel so try cutting down

or even quitting and remember that

there's support available

alcohol in particular can worsen our

moods so cutting down can really help us

feel better

for more help cutting down you can

download the drink free days app

and for help cutting back on drugs visit

the talk to frank website

as for cigarettes stopping smoking is

one of the best things you can do for

your body and your brain

you'll breathe easier feel better and

save money

check out nhs dot uk smoke free for

advice and support on quitting

whatever you choose to do what's good

for your body is good for your mind

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