If you're ever feeling sad, just go for a run. Because then you’ll realize your physical health is way worse than your mental health.

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that metacognitive abilities, or the ability to reflect on and control one's own thinking, are connected to physical activity, diet, and sleep quality.

The study suggests that these lifestyle habits not only impact basic thinking skills but also the higher-level processes we use to guide and regulate our thinking.

The Details

Metacognition:

This refers to our ability to think about our thinking, including knowing what strategies to use, monitoring our progress, and adjusting our plans.

Physical Activity:

The study found a link between physical activity and the ability to know and regulate one's own cognition, both online (during) and offline (after).

Diet:

The study also suggests that diet is related to the ability to regulate cognition while actively thinking.

Sleep Quality:

The study indicated that metacognitive worry, or the tendency to dwell on negative thoughts, is associated with sleep behaviors.

Summary

The ability to be aware of our thinking and be in control of our thoughts can greatly influence our life.

Mindlessly wandering through life can lead to a downward spiral of regret, depression, and anxiety.

This study shows promising findings that we don’t need to go in a cave with ayahuasca to achieve greater metacognition, but instead, we can improve it through lifestyle choices.

Meditation is still a wonderful tool to improve metacognition, but it’s also important to consider how our bodies influence our minds.

Because the mind-body connection is a two way street.

Your body state is your mental state (and vice versa).

Start with something easy:

Going for a walk
Starting a weight lifting routine
Eating more vegetables and fruits
Eating less processed foods
Putting the phone away and going to bed earlier

But don't try to do it all at once.

Start with something you can be successful with. This will help you gain momentum to make further positive changes.