Whether you’re just stepping into your wellness era, or if you’re way ahead in your fitness journey, feeling your best is never easy. It turns out, one of the main pillars of achieving optimal health and wellness is kindness!
That’s right besties, being kind to yourself and others will help catapult you to success. Scientific research demonstrates the many ways kindness can evoke positive emotions, as well as have a profound impact on long-term health and well-being. Facts (!!)
“Small acts of kindness are an essential and often overlooked component of health,” says, Dr. Haseeb Rohilla, Specialist Psychiatrist and Medical Director at Priory Wellbeing Centre Abu Dhabi.
So, in order to finesse your fitness this year, start with the simple act of being kind. Looking to make kindness a priority? Start here!
Here are 5 ways being kind is actually good for your health
Kindness is the ultimate stress-buster
We’re all prone to a little bit of stress from time to time, however chronic stress can lead to a host of health problems. One way to ease those feelings of angst? Kindness. “On an individual level, kindness buffers stress,” Dr. Rohilla says. “It lowers cortisol and blood pressure, reduces pain, anxiety, depression, and boosts our immune system.”
Being kind can improve your mental health
Being kind to others, and especially being kind to yourself, is an essential tool for maintaining good mental health. Positive self-affirmations are all the rage lately, and Dr. Rohilla urges us to practice this alongside meditation or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for optimal results.
Kindness also triggers the release of two crucial feel-good chemicals in our brain: serotonin and oxytocin. Oxytocin fosters feelings of intimacy and closeness with others, while serotonin regulates mood, happiness, and overall well-being.
Kindness is *quite literally* good for the heart
Research suggests that if you’re kind, optimistic and happy, you are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease. If you move through life with kindness, it can reduce the impact of stress and enhance metabolic health, all of which contribute to heart health.
Find joy in kindness
Kindness is the key to a happy soul. Recent research found that people who performed kindness activities for seven days — whether targeted toward friends and family, strangers, or themselves — reported a boost in happiness. And the kinder they were (measured in terms of the more acts of kindness performed), the happier they were.
Being kind boosts longevity
Genetics have a part to play in life expectancy, but environmental factors can also influence whether we live a long and healthy life. Dr. Rohilla states, “People with a sense of purpose are more likely to live longer and have significantly lower the risk of heart disease, strokes, and dementia,”.
If you’re looking to level up your health this year, download the Abu Dhabi 360 app for more guides and resources on achieving long-term wellness.
Looking for more inspo on how to enter your healthy girl era? Click here!
Read our expert guide to keeping your gut health in check here!