06
May
2024
|
05:00 AM
America/Chicago

Well-Being Week in Law: The mind-body connection

by Raven Ballard, PLPC, MOLAP clinician and well-being coordinator

We all know that our physical health is important, and our society is in the process of accepting that our mental health is, too. But what we don’t talk about enough is the tie between our physical and mental health. While we often think of our mental and physical healthy separately, really, the two can’t be disentangled as they affect one another.

Have you ever noticed that, when you’re stressed, if you stop what you’re doing, close your eyes, and take a few deep and intentional breaths, your body feels calmer – and so does your mind? This is just one example of how mindfulness tools that include the use of our bodies can positively influence our mental health.

Walking meeting(1)More research emerges every year pointing to the fact that exercise and moving our bodies can be crucial for treating our mental health concerns. Does this mean that physical activity is the magical cure-all for mental health? Of course not. But increased physical activity has been widely shown to decrease the likelihood of depressive symptoms as well as reduce the frequency of anxiety symptoms (Smith & Merwin, 2021). 

One concern that I often hear from lawyers, though, is finding time to exercise. Lawyering is tough. It’s fast-paced, it keeps you busy, and caseloads can be overwhelming. Oh, and then there are the demands of life outside of work, such as families, friends, and general adult responsibilities. (I hope you remembered to submit your property assessment for this year, but just know that if you forgot, it’s okay because I did, too.) Since exercise can sometimes slip to the bottom of a  priority list, here are some general tips that can help:

  • Schedule in your exercise. If you’re someone who lives by a calendar, squeeze it in and treat it like an important meeting you don’t want to miss.
  • Remember that it’s fine to start small. A quick 10-minute loop around the block offers physical movement and fresh air.
  • Consider home exercises. YouTube is an awesome resource for finding 15-minute workouts, 20-minute yoga videos, and more. It’s free, and you’ll save the time of commuting to the gym.
  • Ask a coworker if they’d consider a walking meeting. It’s essentially like a regular meeting, but you do it while moving! These are especially nice on a beautiful day.

Overall, it’s important prioritize both your mental and physical health equally, because they are basically inseparable! Your body and mind deserve to be taken care of and made a priority, because you are worth it.

If you’d like to discuss how you could improve your overall wellness, the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program is here to help! Please consult the Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program at 1-800-688-7859 for free, confidential counseling. 

References:

Bhandari, T. (2023). Mind-body connection is built into brain, study suggests. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Retrieved from: https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/mind-body-connection-is-built-into-brain-study-suggests/Smith, P. J., & Merwin, R. M. (2021). The role of exercise in management of mental health disorders: An integrative review. Annual Review of Medicine. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev-med-060619-022943