Living Well, Living Long: Your Mind Matters as Much as Your Body
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Sandra Wartski, Psy.D.
Living a longer, healthier life requires caring for both mind and body. If we’re measuring years lived in full health, then psychological well-being must be part of that equation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) developed HALE (Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy), a statistic that measures the average number of years a person can expect to live in "full health." This statistic is considered an improvement in assessing health, concentrating not solely on literal longevity in years but instead on the healthy years lived.
The need to take care of our physical bodies to live a long and fulfilling life is well-established and ingrained. We know that attending to our physical health is vital to longevity; however, many people underestimate the importance of also attending to the mind. Most accept that illness or injury can affect the physical health of a person, but poor mental health can also impact the health of a person. The biopsychosocial model and stress–health pathways are solidly supported by science.
Including psychological factors in the definition of longevity means attending to psychological well-being during that lifespan. Good mental health impacts daily living, such as how we handle stress, cope with challenges, connect to others, and contribute to our community. And mental health checkups, despite still carrying some stigma, are just as important as physical check-ups.
To better understand this mind-body interdependence, there are 3 metaphors that can help:
Computer Software and Hardware
The mind is like the software, and the body is the hardware. They must work together; glitches in the software can slow down the hardware, and damaged hardware can limit the software’s potential. Being unbalanced with the mind-body focus can also result in gaps and deficits, leading to a lopsided approach to life. Many individuals might know the dangers of smoking or dehydration on the body, but not everyone attends to their own intrapersonal and interpersonal well-being as vigilantly. By managing our ABCs (affect, behavior, and cognitions) in effective ways, we are addressing critical parts of mind-body care.
Conductor and Orchestra
Your body is like the orchestra, and your mind is the conductor. Without a well-functioning brain orchestrating the various movements and expected performances, a human will have significant difficulties. And without a well-tended body capable of responding to the brain’s directions, significant gaps in functioning will appear. If something is off track, we might need to examine what is out of tune and figure out how to get back on track. Or, sometimes, we might need more radical acceptance, reminding ourselves that a violin is not supposed to sound like a flute. When life sounds discordant, we need to identify the issue and retune.
Driver and Car
Your body is like a car, and your mind is the driver. If a body is physically unwell and doesn’t get the necessary attention, there will be difficulties for the body and the mind. If someone is mentally unwell and not attending to psychological needs, problems can also arise with the body. Humans need to pay attention to their capacity for operating precious machinery (our bodies), paying attention to dashboard warning lights or sounds under the hood (such as fatigue or pain). Humans also need to assess their own mental capacity for safe “driving” by tuning in to mental check-ups and emotional hygiene more regularly as well. Both systems matter.
Humans have a 100 percent death rate. But dedication to the mind-body connection helps us enjoy the life we do live. Letting one lapse will negatively affect the other, but taking care of both has an enormous multiplier effect. And you’re never too young—or old—to get started.
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