Daily activity supports mental health too
More than half of higher education students experience psychological distress, which is more prevalent among students than the general Finnish population. It was Students’ Mental Health day this week. Students’ Mental Health Day aims to provoke conversation about students’ mental health and increase the knowledge about mental health being a fundamental resource that can be promoted through small acts.
One of these acts is being physically active. An active lifestyle is related to mental health in many different ways: Physical activity e.g. improves mood, alertness, self-esteem, and stress management. It is also a good way to maintain social relationships and create a sense of belonging.
This year Students' Mental Health Day’s theme is compassion. The concept of compassion also includes the term self-compassion, which means the ability to treat yourself kindly even when you’re experiencing setbacks or failures. It is easy to be demanding and critical towards yourself, whereas showing compassion to yourself might feel difficult.
And how is self-compassion related to physical activity? Setting unrealistic goals may create a barrier to physical activity and cause stress and experiences of failure. A good example of this phenomenon is the Finnish Student Sports Federation’s study which recognized different characters based on sedentary students’ physical activity relationships. One of these characters was “Oili on-off” who envisions starting an intense training program. However, high goals regarding the volume and intensity of training make Oili procrastinate and ultimately never start exercising.
Instead, setting a low threshold for physical activity makes it more likely to be active. It may be difficult to gain enough motivation to go for a long run, but a stroll in your neighborhood may seem like a more feasible thing to do. A calm walk might not be the same as a sweaty workout session, but it is a way better option than a workout that isn’t done at all.
In summary, you shouldn’t criticize yourself for not being active enough, but rather remember that even a small movement counts. When aiming for a more active lifestyle, absoluteness should be forgotten, and remember to celebrate small victories that also improve your well-being significantly.
Hanna Lankia
Sports Communication Trainee
The Student Union of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
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