Mental Health Awareness Month: Staying Physically Active Can Improve Your Mental Health

On the occasion of Mental Health Awareness Month and alongside the launch of Tennis Canada’s new Mental Timeout initiative supported by Beneva, we spoke with Dr. Sommer Christie, Certified Mental Performance Consultant for Tennis Canada, to create a series of four-part articles. on the importance of mental health, both in tennis and in life.

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The benefits of regular physical activity on all aspects of our well-being are many and the best part is that it’s easy to do if we take the time. There are many ways to be physically active that go far beyond simply participating in sports. Physical activity can improve your brain health, help manage your weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to carry out daily activities. When it comes to this series of articles, Dr. Sommer Christie is adamant that one of the most important benefits of physical activity is the best medicine for mental health.

READ: MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

“Being physically active changes your brain chemistry. It actually gives you more dopamine, which contributes to your happiness,” Christie explained. “If you have nothing else but to work or be sporty, physical activity allows you to get out of this trend. It can make you feel better about yourself.

For those who don’t particularly enjoy sports, there are still plenty of activities that can be incorporated into a daily routine, including dancing, Zumba, and going for walks with friends, which also help with our social needs. Meanwhile, playing with your children not only keeps you active, but also allows you to form valuable bonds with them that will last a lifetime.

READ: MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND SPORTS PERFORMANCE

Speaking of a lifetime, tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone at any age and it’s never too late to pick up a racquet as long as your body physically allows it. It’s a great way to stay in shape with friends and family who are also playing. Even though professional tennis players may be forced into an unbalanced lifestyle, the game can help keep things more balanced for recreational players who may struggle mentally or who may be looking for that something missing in their game. life to feel more whole. Christie reiterates that balance is everything, as is sanity.

“You can survive and do your daily chores if you’re sick, but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy,” Christie said. “It’s essential to develop healthy habits early on and it’s equally important to develop a healthy understanding of what it’s like to have more in your life than just your career or something that consumes most of your life. time. Don’t let that alone define who you are as a person.