Mind Map on the uses of Mind Mapping by Phil Chambers
KEY MIND MAP APPLICATION 5: WELLBEING
There is a proven positive relationship between physical wellbeing and mental
performance. Today, lobby groups are campaigning to make the government
acknowledge the connection between the two when making policy, as they argue
mental health and physical health should not be thought of as separate entities.
I have always enjoyed physical activities such as rowing and running; and I am a
firm believer that, in order to flourish mentally, you should care for your
physical wellbeing. I also believe the opposite holds true: that poor mental health
can be detrimental to physical health and even make some conditions worse.
Five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave has a well-developed
understanding of the mind–body connection. He has stressed how vital the brain
understanding of the mind–body connection. He has stressed how vital the brain
is to any sporting achievement, and has said, “When you compete at a high level,
you have to be very strong mentally.”. He is also a firm supporter of the work
that me and my fellow Mind Mappers do, saying:
“Tony Buzan is one of the very few people I
have met who really understands so
completely how important the brain is to any
sportsman or woman.”
Achieve Holistic Wellbeing
These days we understand that getting in great shape is not about focusing solely
on exercise and restrictive diets, but about promoting all-round wellbeing,
including nourishing our bodies properly, getting enough sleep, destressing and
doing the things that make us happy. The good news is that you don’t have to
spend a fortune on the services of a personal trainer or a lifestyle coach to help
you feel and look great. Instead, use a Mind Map to create a personal holistic
wellbeing plan of your own. Try to create images that will inspire you by
radiating vitality and good health. Your main branches could reflect the key
areas that contribute to your all-round wellbeing – the example on
page 115
explores nutrition, exercise, destressing, sleep and happiness, but you might
choose to focus on slightly different areas. As you fill in the subbranches,
looking at what supports your overall wellbeing and what hinders it, you will see
how certain activities benefit you in many different ways. Perhaps exercise crops
up not only as a wellbeing target of its own but also as a means of getting more
sleep and destressing, which in turn helps promote happiness. In my experience,
mental health and physical fitness are inextricable.
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