We are told that 'exercise, diet, and sleep are important,' but why? A logical explanation
When you are depressed or on leave, you are told to 'exercise.' However, surprisingly few people can logically explain why lifestyle habits are effective for mental health.
Whenever we talk about mental health, this always comes up. I think it's correct. But the 'why' is rarely explained.
Let's organize this with logic.
Why sleep is important
During sleep, the brain performs 'memory consolidation' and 'waste removal.'
In particular, emotional processing takes place during sleep. Research has shown that sleep 'softens' unpleasant events.
If you don't get enough sleep, the amygdala (the part of the brain that processes emotions) becomes prone to overreacting. You become more easily agitated by trivial things, and your anxiety increases. Conversely, sleeping stabilizes your emotional threshold.
Why exercise is important
When you exercise, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine are released. These are neurotransmitters involved in mood, motivation, and concentration.
Antidepressants help these substances function, and it has been shown that exercise has similar effects.
Also, exercise provides a sense of 'having controlled your own body.' This leads to self-efficacy.
Why diet is important
The gut and the brain are connected by the gut-brain axis. If the gut environment is disrupted, it also affects the production of serotonin.
Sudden fluctuations in blood sugar also create mood swings. If you consume refined carbohydrates all at once, your blood sugar spikes and then crashes. At this time, your mood is also likely to drop.
Diet creates the 'foundation for mood stability.'
In summary
Sleep, exercise, and diet are not for 'supplementing willpower with effort.' They are the conditions for 'maintaining the basic functions of the brain and body.'
If these are broken, no matter how good your environment is, your brain will not function well.
As a foundation for recovery, I fix these before doing anything special. I learned that this is the shortcut only after I broke my body.
Shitsukan / Rework Avert
MA in Museum Studies (University of Leicester, Merit) | Engineer | Experienced in Rework
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