Topic Tuesday // Physical Activity and Mental Health // Tues 6th July, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

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@Daisydreamer wrote:

Question 3: @Peregrinefalcon How has physical activity been shown to promote mental health and wellbeing?

For the community: How does it feel and what do you think when you do physical activity? Do you notice an impact on your mental health?

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It's a mood booster for me. I feel accomplished when I get up and exercise early, it sets up the day in a positive frame. It also makes me feel better about myself long term, more confident, less stressed.

Hi @Poppyfriend543, welcome to your first Topic Tuesday! 😊🎉

I also love spending time in nature, and can relate to struggling to find time to meet up with friends to organise doing things like that. Often I'll just go by myself because I've realised that I still get a lot of benefit out of going, even if I am by myself 🌳🌿

In terms of mindful eating and trying to prevent diabetes, I think a medical professional would be best to advise you on health advice relating to that. I'm wondering if you've spoken to your GP about it yet? 😊

Question 4: For @Peregrinefalcon and the community:

Are there barriers or limitations to physical activity that you notice, and what are they?

I do a short walk once per week with a group of others with MI issues. I am overweight and I don't find that I get any enjoyable feelings from it. I just don't enjoy it. I only do it to keep my support worker happy. I wish I enjoyed exercise. I used to roller skate around 15 years ago and I really enjoyed that but my local roller rink closed down so now it's too difficult.

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@bipolarbunny wrote:

I think the boring aspect comes in when you are doing something you don't want to do or don't enjoy doing. Also it can become overwhelming setting big goals, so I personally think the key to becoming active is picking something you like to do or would like to learn and setting small weekly goals. And not expecting too much too soon. Start off slow, walk to the end of your street and watch the sunset one night. Everyone loves a sunset 🙂

BB 🐰💙

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So true @bipolarbunny 🙂 Physical activity can be in the things we are already doing and enjoy, like walking to see the sunset as you have mentioned, or activities like gardening. Starting small and building up can help with motivation

Are there barriers or limitations to physical activity that you notice, and what are they?

Everyone will have their own barriers to physical activity – these can take many forms including

• Chronic illness and disbailtiy
• Lack of energy
• Not enough time: Busy routine and numerous committments
• Lack of resources/equipment
• Lack of confidence
• Caregiving commitments
• Boredom
• Lockdowns!!
  
  As someone with chronic health condition myself, I am still in the process of learning to really respect my body's boundaries - which can be hard when that can change on a daily basis!
  
  

Hi everyone. Better late than never... I'm just catching up on the conversation.

@Former-Member

Finally here!

Got some reading to do...

Thanks for the tag 🙂

Are there barriers or limitations to physical activity that you notice, and what are they?--- for us @Daisydreamer , @Peregrinefalcon , @Former-Member

it is the weather, time , the less activities in rural areas where we live

and also our ages

How does it feel and what do you think when you do physical activity? Do you notice an impact on your mental health?

I feel a lot more grounded and present in my body - being immersed in physical activity like a sport can also take me away from the stresses of my life, and it feels good to only be just thinking about moving my body/playing a game and nothing else in the world.