Be Inspired To: Workout & Take care of your Body

Written by: Asa Floyd
Published: March 30th, 2022

Lesson #7: Workout & Take Care of Your Body

This week is my first time writing a Be Inspired To piece. I am genuinely excited to start this process, so I chose one of my most passionate hobbies, working out and taking care of your body. Both of these topics can enhance your mental state and also increase your confidence level. Both in which contribute to a happier and more enjoyable lifestyle.

Beginning with working out, it is crucial to devote time in your day to work out and move your body. This can help your focus, benefit your mood and also increase self confidence. Everyone is busy all day, everyday, doing work for school, working their job or even making decisions on other aspects of their private life. We all need to refresh ourselves and take a break sometimes. However, taking a break to play a game on your phone or scroll through Instagram, is not as beneficial as working out. This is because you still are using your brain for those other activities. Working out immediately increases the brain's dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels. All of which boost focus and attention. By taking 30 minutes out of your day to workout, whether it's running, walking, lifting weights or even just stretching, your focus and attention levels will increase and benefit your work for the rest of the day.

Working out also benefits your mood and self confidence. Although results will not show for a few weeks, once you see the results of working out you will skyrocket in self confidence and because of that, your mood will also increase as well. Backtracking a bit, your mood and confidence will also improve due to increased productivity with doing schoolwork or working at your job because of your focus and attention levels rising. It is a very pleasant break in your day to worry about nothing and just run or lift weights. Not to mention it also helps your sleep, and we could always use better sleep! Working out will not completely fix your views and mood towards daily tasks, however, it is a great first step in improving your daily mood.

As for taking care of your body, I have incorporated many things to help take care of my body so it helps my mental state. A couple things I have focused on are cold showers and eating better over the past year.

Cold showers have been a part of my life for about 6 months now. It has helped me wake up in the morning, or made my body feel great after an intense workout. However, increasing happiness is the main reason I have started this habit. The following is a quote from Heathline.com on the scientific reasoning behind cold showers improving your mood: “Another way cold showers may work is by increasing endorphins, or the feel-good hormones in your brain. Endorphins can ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Cold water may also decrease cortisol, a stress-inducing hormone.” Not only is trying something new and stepping outside your comfort zone great for your mental health, it is also scientifically proven that taking cold showers daily, dramatically increases your mood for the better.

On the other hand, eating well sometimes may not always be great and the most ideal thing to do to satisfy yourself, especially when there is Ben and Jerry’s Black Raspberry ice cream available, however it ALSO can help improve your mental state and mood. Eating well is a great start to create a better self image. This is because it will improve the shape that you are in, and when you look in the mirror, you are truly proud of what you see. However, this is also scientifically proven to improve your mood, Health.clevelandclinic.org as well: “Protein consumption (from foods like fish, beef, chicken, turkey, tofu, beans, eggs and unsweetened yogurt) has been linked to higher levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are brain chemicals that play a role in your mood, motivation and concentration.” I know I am not a reliable source to trust with scientific reasoning, that is why I want to provide the quote above so you truly understand the importance of eating well!

All in all, taking care of your body by working out, taking cold showers and eating well, will absolutely contribute to a better mental state and improve your way of living on a day to day basis.

Sources

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/exercise-and-mental-health

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/cold-shower-for-anxiety

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/bad-mood-look-to-your-food/