Why is emotional health so critical?
Emotional Health week is an even arranged by The Centre for Emotional Health and is an opportunity to come together and raise awareness of the importance of our emotional health, including how to develop this, because it supports us through all the challenges life throws at us.
We often don’t recognise the impact of stress or mental illness until it shows up in some from of physical symptom.
Our emotional wellbeing can have a huge toll on our overall wellbeing.
Sometimes we don't know how to talk about this, or feel shame about our symptoms, only seeking professional help once it shows up physically or we are in crisis.
How can I improve my emotional wellbeing?
Make sleep a priority - Try to sleep at the same time each night, limit the use of electronics and try something relaxing like a bath.
Exercise - Just 30 minutes of exercise such as walking can have a major impact on your emotional wellness.
Practice deep breathing to reduce stress - A short but effective exercise is to breathe in through your nose to a count of 4, hold for 1 second and then exhale through the mouth to a count of 5. Repeat.
Volunteer your time - Be it to friends and family or a cause that is close to your heart. It can help shift your thoughts to something else, and can give you a feeling of purpose.
Spend time with friends and family - Quality time with friends can remind you you’re not alone, and help find ways to experience joy in life.
Take time to unplug - We live in a world full of technology which can be overwhelming, and too much social media has been linked to higher stress levels. Consider scheduling breaks, head in to nature or read a book to help you unwind and reconnect with your emotions.
Talk about your feelings - Talk about your feelings with someone you trust. Or if this isn’t for you, try writing in a journal each day. Writing about your feelings each day may help you to better understand your emotions.
There are more ideas to help improve your emotional wellness here - Emotional Wellness Toolkit
I hope you’ve found the above tips as useful as I did. If you have any suggestions based on what works for you, please do share these.
And if you are struggling with your wellbeing, please reach out. 💜
