Mental and emotional health is part of the healthy living equation and just as important as physical health; in fact, it may not be possible to have one without the other long term. In other words, poor emotional health causes stress that can cause issues with physical health. Holistic means whole person and whole being and is why I practice holistic health coaching. Every part of our life has an effect on the other part of our life. Today we are talking about mental well-being.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental wellness as a state of well-being where a person can:
- Realize their abilities
- Cope with life’s stresses
- Work productively
- Contribute to their community
Mental wellness is a broad topic and today we will break it down to one aspect of mental health – stress reduction which is one of my nine pillars of health. There are many diverse ways to reduce stress and outdoor therapy – getting outdoors is one way – another pillar of health! It can be as simple as going for a walk out your front door. Personally, I find that if my goals are simple and easy, I am better able to stick with them. Walking is movement – another pillar of health! See how the nine pillars are overlapping? All the pillars of health are important and work together with the others to achieve optimal health.
If you’d like to learn more about the nine pillars and their overlapping intersection leading to optimal health, follow me here for more information on my group course titled Faithful Remission in Action: Empowering Autoimmune Warriors through Nine Holistic Pillars that will begin Sept. 26, 2024.
As a culture, people today are spending more time on screens, social media and video games. The ramifications of this lifestyle can lead to more stress and a variety of mental health challenges. On the other hand, studies show that getting outside has a psychological restorative effect and can put us in a better mood. Getting outside can help us have better focus and cognition. It’s good for the brain!
There are many different ways to take advantage of nature / outdoor therapy. Here are a few simple ways:
- Gardening
- Playing with your pet outside
- Walking through a forest mindfully while using your five senses (also called forest bathing)
- Walking in your neighborhood
Spending time in nature is a high-quality, low cost way of improving mental health and overall health and wellness! I encourage you to do something simple that fits with your life.
My challenge for you! Get outside and walk one mile per day for seven consecutive days and notice how you feel. Come back here and leave a comment and share your takeaway. Wishing you great health and well-being!
