What Can Physical Activity Teach us About Our Mental Health?
Well, the Super Bowl is over. We have crowned a new football champion, completely overanalyzed whether there should have been a holding call, watched all the commercials, and dissected the halftime performance. It never ceases to amaze me how much time and energy so many people (including myself) put into one game. For some of us, it is the halftime show or the commercials that captivate our attention. But for the sports purist, we marvel and deeply appreciate the skill and athleticism it takes to perform at the level of professional sports. Many of us go for a run or go to the gym and still, in some small way, believe that we could be that star athlete.
As a young player, I remember that the fun wasn’t just the game; it was the preparation—the physical strain you put on your body to improve. We put in the work—everything we did revolved around the physical preparation required to be the best. But what made it possible and fun was the community we were a part of. I would never have put myself through such torture had I not had my friends and coaches pushing me.
The community surrounding me helped me make my physical health a priority.
What if we thought about our mental health in the same way?
It should come as no surprise that our mental health is just as important as our physical well-being. Yet, far too often, we spend much more time prioritizing our physical health—clearly evidenced by how much we care, celebrate, and emulate the sports world. Shouldn’t the same be true when it comes to the health of our minds?
The answer is an obvious yes. But how? Let me give you two quick ways. These are things that, in sports, we do almost instinctively.
The Support of Shared Experience
The truth is that the only way I would get out of bed at 5 am to run or stay an extra hour after school to lift weights was because I had friends there with me. But it was more than just the motivation and support of your community. It’s a total shared experience. I remember one off-season in high school, a few of us decided to overwork ourselves on leg day. The following day we were so sore that we couldn’t walk normal or even climb the stairs. I remember begging the hall monitors to let us use the elevators, but to no avail; we slowly inched our way up each step carefully, wincing in pain with every move. We thought it might be the funniest moment of the year. We spent the entire day laughing at each other. And in the end, the experience we shared motivated us more.
When it comes to our mental health, shared experience is critical. Yet, we often think we need to go at it alone. We allow ourselves to believe that mental health is a solo experience. But it’s not. It’s a community thing. We need each other to laugh with, cry, lean on, and lean into.
Start with the Small Things
During the summer months, I run a fair amount as often as I can. On a good month, I can get in 30-40 miles. My wife recently asked me if she could start running with me. Of course, I said yes. Before she committed, she wanted to know how far I ran each time. Depending on how I feel, I aim for 4-5 miles. She gave me a crazed look, knowing that 4 or 5 miles for her were entirely out of reach. So instead, we started walking together. Her goal was not to be a great runner or complete a half marathon. She just wanted to be in better shape and enjoy time with me. Walking was the perfect solution. She didn’t need to join an expensive gym or hire a personal trainer; she just needed to do something simple to get moving.
When we think about caring for our mental health, we sometimes think it involves a professional therapist and hours spent meditating. But better mental wellness can be so much simpler than that. What if you committed to a scheduled bedtime and waketime? Or set a reminder on your phone to take a minute at the end of each day to reflect on what you are grateful for. You could dedicate a few minutes each morning to a journal. These are straightforward (and easy) tasks you can do to help you prioritize your mental health the same way you prioritize your physical health.
I doubt we will ever marvel at mental strength, agility, and poise as we do with our physical abilities. But that doesn’t make our mental wellness any less critical.
