Yesterday, to honor Mental Health Action Day, Reese Witherspoon posted a video of her working out with the caption: “Here’s your reminder to make time for yourself today. Some easy stretches with good tunes! ☀️🧘🏼♀️ 🎶 #mentalhealthactionday.”
The video is a time-lapse of a workout Witherspoon did on a pink Bala mat — warming up with some arm circles, doing some bodyweight moves like side lunges and squats, and using matching pink Bala Bar three-pound weights to do some upper-body exercises like biceps curls and overhead shoulder presses.
The goal of Mental Health Action Day is to “spread the message that we can take actions to improve our mental health just like our physical health,” according to the campaign’s website, and Witherspoon is demonstrating how the two can actually go hand in hand. It’s not uncommon for people to start working out because they want the physical benefits and then keep at it because of the mental perks: for example, exercise is good for your mental health since it can boost feel-good endorphins, decrease anxiety and depression, and help relieve stress.
That said, even though Witherspoon’s way of nurturing her mental health includes movement, you can do whatever works for you. It can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths, eating something that feeds your soul, or doing five minutes of an activity that makes you happy. It can also involve asking for help, like calling a therapist to set up an appointment or reaching out to a friend or family member for support.
If you need emotional support today or you’re worried about someone else, contact a medical professional or call 1-800-273-TALK(8255) for a free, confidential conversation, according to the Mental Health Action Day website.
