Self Care
October makes it clear: The summer has come to an end. It was official for me a few weeks earlier, when the US Open Tennis Championships began. For those who are not fans, the US Open is one of the four major tennis events of the year and is held the last week of August through the first week of September in Flushing Meadow Corona Park in New York. It is truly an amazing event that I have had the good fortune of attending many times over the years.
As a "former" intermediate player years ago, I recently decided to put on some tennis sneakers, grab my racket, and attempt to hit a few tennis balls. After sitting behind a bench for the past 15 years, it seems that, sadly, most of my physical activity involves running to catch a plane for a conference or lecture. Although there is some skill in balancing my coffee in one hand and the slide changer in the other, I am fairly certain that this activity will not become an Olympic event anytime soon. So, after about a month of attempting to remember how to actually run and hit the ball, I am excited to be playing again. Although my game is a little slower than it was all those years ago when I played competitively, the rewards are nearly the same. Many of you already recognize the health benefits derived from engaging in regular exercise or some type of sport or hobby. For me, this recognition had become a bit cloudy until recently.
We are all probably aware of studies and reports regarding the link between exercise and mental wellness. Physical activity is often said to improve mental acuity and overall mental health. I have always realized the physical benefits, but after the past few months, I can personally attest to mental benefits that, for me, now almost exceed the obvious physical gains.
Some of the benefits of engaging in a regular sport or exercise as reported by Halifax Health are as follows:
1. Exercise positively impacts levels of serotonin, a chemical that helps regulate mental health, and stimulates the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which improves mood.
2. Physical activity releases endorphins, the body's natural "happy chemicals," and reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
3. Sports are associated with lower rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal behavior.
4. Team sports enhance resilience, empathy, confidence, and empowerment.
5. They have also been shown to increase executive functioning, creativity, cognitive development, and self-regulation.
6. They improve teamwork and social responsibility.
7. Sleep improves when physically active—which is important because sleep is essential for maintaining mental health.
We have all seen the multitude of technicians on social media sharing their hobbies, sports, and exercise regimens. Needless to say, even though the summer officially has ended, finding time off the bench for our mental and physical health should not. We are all hardworking technicians and businesspeople. Our profession, like many others, has numerous stress points, so mental health outlets are universally needed. I hope we can all find some outlets to distract us from the everyday pressures we face.
Peter Pizzi, MDT, CDT
Editor-in-Chief
peter.pizzi@broadcastmed.com
