Sport and Exercise Team Homepage

Healthy Body Healthy Mind

'If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise; not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.'

Hippocrates (c,460-377 BC)

It is important to realise that everyone has mental health and life can be described as a continuum that we all move along.  At some points in our lives, our mental health is better at times than others, and just like physical health, we can identify the good and bad things to maintain health – physical and mental.

Mental Health Facts:

  • Mental health problems are common and can affect anyone
  • 1 in 4 people will experience mental health problems in any year
  • 1 in 20 people have depression
  • 70% of mental health problems are anxiety and depression
  • Young men under the age of 35 are currently at greater risk of suicide than any other group

5 Ways to Better Mental Health

  • connect with the people around you
  • do something active
  • take notice of the world, catch sight of the beautiful, remark on the unusual
  • earn something new
  • do something nice for a friend or stranger

If you think you or someone else is affected my mental health issues and would like more information see the University's Counselling Service for further information.  You may also find the following information helpful, click here. 

University Counselling Service · 5 Dunbar Street · Old Aberdeen · AB24 3UD
Telephone: (01224) 272139 · Email: counselling@abdn.ac.uk

Physical Activity Guidelines:

How much is enough? If you do not exericse and don't have any health problems we would encourage you to aim for the government recommendations of 30mins moderate activity 5 days a week.  It might sound like a lot, but 'moderate' activity can be anything that makes you slightly out of breath and increases your heart rate, like a brisk walk to work.  If you are looking to boost your fitness levels try progressing onto more vigorous activities such as cycling, running and swimming. 

Sport and Exercise Recommendations:

The idea is to be more active than you are at present and perhaps aim for small lifestyle or set yourself a goal to work towards.

  • Walking to and from work, click here
  • Join an exercise class at Aberdeen Sports Village, click here
  • Bookable classes to help motivation, click here
  • Get the kids involved, click here
  • Join a beginners jogging network (jogscotland), click here
  • Take the stairs instead of the escalator or lift
  • At the supermarket carry a basket instead of pushing a trolley
  • Carrying your recycling to bins rather than driving to them
  • Whilst waiting for public transport pace around instead of sitting still
  • Keep active at work - walk to meetings or meeting on the move? Instead of writing small emails try 'Me-mailing' people instead!   

Patience: Many people often fail to maintain a new regime because they start off too soon, too fast and too often. This can result very quickly in a burn out, illness or injury.  One of the main benefits of exercising is the release of endorphins into your blood stream that cause the 'feel good factor'. You want to maintain a steady release of endorphins' by starting slowly and gradually building up the amount of activity you do each week. Take rest days between more vigorous days of exercise to recover fully for your next session.  If you have any health concerns it is strongly recommended that you talk to your doctor before participating in a new exercise regime.

Eat Well: Being prepared can help you become more active. It's a good idea to plan meals in advance so that you have enough energy to achieve your planned activity. Everyone should aim to have 3-4 meals a day at regular times. If you often skip breakfast you can be setting yourself up for a long tiring day with no energy.  To find out more about eating well visit the Food Standards Agency's website www.eatwell.gov.uk

Alcohol: Remember to think about your alcohol consumption as part of your healthy diet.  Alcohol can increase blood pressure, damage your heart muscle and liver.  It is important to be aware that binge drinking can lead to significant problems.  To add to the health risks alcohol also contains a lot of calories and can distort your feelings of hunger making you eat more which can lead to weight gain. Try to stick to the limits and keep at least a couple of day's alcohol free.  Women can drink up to 2 to 3 units of alcohol a day and men up to 3 to 4 units a day, without significant risk to their health.