World Health Day
By: Sarah Herbert, LMHC
April 7th, 2025 is World Health Day! What’s the first thing for you that comes to mind when you think of health? Is it going for a nice walk, doing some yoga, eating a balanced diet, or all of the above? Physical health is just as important as mental health, especially when both play hand and hand together. Activities such as being able to do physical exercise, drink the recommended amount of water, and get the sleep you need can greatly benefit your mental wellbeing.
While World Health Day focuses on physical health, it is important to understand our mental health on World Health Day as well. Taking care of our physical needs as well as our mental needs is incredibly important, as they are closely connected.
What are some things that you can do to take care of your health this World Health Day? Here are some activities that can aid with both physical and mental health:
Go for a nice walk, enjoy the feeling of that spring sun on your skin, and see how all the plants and trees are coming back to life again. Hearing the birds chirping in the air, the smell of freshly cut grass, and all things that engage with your senses can help you stay within the moment.
Meditation! Meditation is a great way to not only practice mindfulness, but to also help with imagery that can help with physiological sensations such as stress and anxiety. Meditation also aids us with mindfulness. Mindfulness helps keep us within the present moment and focused on the here and now, paying attention to our surroundings and our bodies in how we are feeling and thinking. Mindfulness helps us to focus on what we see and feel, allowing us to understand our bodily cues and attend to what needs we may have.
The internet is a great source for all kinds of guided meditations. YouTube offers many options, such as this one here: https://youtu.be/syx3a1_LeFo?si=Df4z2nfeRHCBwzpQ
The Calm app is also a great resource for other meditation-related activities to help with stress and anxiety. The Calm app also has different meditations depending on what works best for you and what helps you relax.
Practice self-care! Self-care can include skin care, buying ourselves a treat after a hard day, taking a nap, watching a favorite show or movie, or hanging out with friends. Self-care can also be things such as gardening, reading a good book, knitting, doing crafts, and coloring.
Staying hydrated! Ensuring that we are drinking enough water so that our body stays hydrated, especially with how the weather has been fluctuating, can really make a difference. Being aware of the physical symptoms of dehydration can help us take better care of ourselves both physically and mentally.
Knowing our limits and resting when needed. Being able to rest is such a crucial part of our health. However rest might look to you, whether that is taking a 20 minute nap or going for a leisurely bike ride, this allows our body to focus on the present moments and allow us to rest from the daily stressors of life. Rest can help us reduce the possibility of burnout or greater levels of stress.
Modify physical activities if needed. If traditional exercise is challenging due to physical limitations or chronic illness, here are some alternative activities:
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- Seated Yoga
- Gardening
- Seated Stretching
- Other forms of exercise that can be done sitting down, especially for those who may have physical limitations and chronic illnesses that cannot stand for long periods of time. These can include sitting in a chair and lifting light weights, as well as using a resistance band to stretch your arms and legs.
- Wheelchair cardio, such as moving around in a space and using your arms to propel the wheelchair.
- Foam Rolling
If these ideas do not work for you, please adjust them to your specific needs and physical limitations you might have to ensure you are staying safe while exercising.
Overall, World Health Day might have its focus on physical health, but the mental health aspects of it are just as important. Physical health and mental health are interconnected. What are some things you can do today to focus on you and what your body needs?