The Mind-Body Connection: Learn the powerful link between physical activity and your mental well-being!

Friday: Mindfulness by Miles From the desk of Miles Everson: Happy Friday! Welcome to today’s edition of “Mindfulness by Miles!” Every Friday, I write about health, wellness, mindfulness, and the future of work with the hopes of helping you improve your personal life and professional life. After all, in this frantic and stressful world, it is often hard to find time to develop habits and routines that can improve your mental and physical health. So for today, I’ll share insights that can help you improve your well-being. Keep reading below to know more. CEO, MBO Partners Chairman of the Advisory Board, The I Institute

ANNOUNCEMENT Did you know that 11% of all American workers—a staggering 18.1 million—are digital nomads? For those of you might not know, digital nomads choose to combine working remotely and traveling for various reasons and lengths of time. If you want to know how this once-fringe lifestyle has surged into the mainstream, please read MBO Partner’s latest report on the topic. This is an essential read for both professionals and corporate leaders as it sheds light on the growth, demographics, skills, satisfaction levels, and policies surrounding digital nomads. Besides, now that the world of work has truly shifted, there’s no going back… and for us to understand these changes, we need to take a closer look at the rise and popularity of the digital nomad lifestyle. We hope you’ll find our latest report helpful and insightful. Happy reading! The Mind-Body Connection: Learn the powerful link between physical activity and your mental well-being! A great majority of people have always viewed mental and physical health as two separate things without realizing that one affects the other in significant ways. For instance: When stressed, our bodies release increased cortisol levels into our bloodstream. For those of you who may not know, cortisol is an essential hormone that plays many important roles including regulating the body’s stress response and blood pressure. On the other hand, people physically suffering from a disease feel stress levels that can lead to anxiety or depression. Simply said, the mind has a strong link with the body, and that’s why it’s important to take good care of both. To further prove my point, here are the benefits of good physical health on your mental well-being: Better mood and energy Reduced stress and anxiety Improved focus and concentration Increased self-confidence A higher sense of accomplishment Improved brain and memory function Reduced risk of developing long-term health conditions Now that you know how a healthy body can improve your mental health, it’s time to know how you can boost the latter by taking care of your body! Incorporate small body movements into your daily routine. Small body movements are brief and low-intensity activities that offer great benefits to your mind and body. Incorporating this in your daily routine can boost your energy and mood. The great thing about this practice? These movements don't require any equipment nor a major time commitment. This type of physical activity can be as simple as standing up (instead of just sitting down for a long period of time), walking, or even just doing household chores. Work out regularly. Working out triggers the release of endorphin, a hormone that reduces your stress levels and naturally improves your mood. Eat a balanced diet. The impact of a good diet goes far beyond physical appearance since the food you consume is crucial to your health. For one, a balanced diet helps reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer, to name a few. Additionally, improving your diet helps boost your memory, focus, and mood. Get enough sleep. Several studies show that getting enough sleep improves your learning, problem solving skills, and focus, promotes better mood, improves emotional regulation, and reduces the risk of depression and anxiety. What’s more? Sleep repairs and heals your body tissues, regulates your hormones, and strengthens your immune system. Simply said, sleep allows your brain and body to recover and function properly. This will help in the improvement of your overall health. Following these will help you keep your body healthy, and as a result, improve your mental well-being! — The impact of taking good care of your body goes beyond the physical. It creates a ripple effect that positively influences your mental well-being. Remember: A healthy body serves as a strong foundation for a healthy mind! By taking good care of your body, you’ll be able to improve your mental well-being and prepare for the challenges and joys life has to offer. Become the best version of yourself by applying the health insights I shared with you!     EXCITING NEWS AHEAD The world of work has shifted, and there’s no going back. The barriers to entry have never been lower for talented professionals to work independently, and today’s massive external workforce is hardly a pandemic-produced fad. Business owners can only survive in the new work landscape by partnering with this deep talent pool. 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