In this fast moving society too many of us take our emotional health for granted. Then we are surprised when we feel anxious or depressed at a life event. Perhaps like physical health we should be spending some time on looking after our emotional health so that it can be strong for those moments we really need them.
Clients with good emotional health feel in control of their feelings, and behaviour. They can adapt to changes in circumstances and build strong relationships, and they have the tools at hand to get over the inevitable ups and downs that life throws at us. You will be pleased to learn that there are many things you can do to boost both your mood and your emotional health.
What is emotional health?
This (and many other articles) bandy about the term emotional health, without a definition so before we move on it is worth saying what this article means by emotional health.
Someone who is emotionally healthy doesn’t only have a lack of mental health problems, there is also a strong element of being happy with who you are. There is an inner strength a belief in your self-worth and a certainty that you know what is right for you in any given circumstance. If you were to describe someone who had good emotional health you would notice their sense of contentment, an ability to manage their stress, would be happy with the balance in their lives of the different parts. They would be flexible with changes and be self-confident.
A key part of this process is self-knowledge that ability to notice your feelings and balance your emotions perhaps by talking them through, perhaps quietly in meditation or the like. This helps to give perspective and allow us to accept ourselves good or bad. A strong support network of family or friends makes a big difference because it helps with this process of perspective and supports you through the difficult times as well as being there to celebrate the successes.
How to improve your emotional health
- Here are 10 things you can do that will improve your emotional health
Look after yourself – Get enough sleep so you are well rested, eat nutritional healthly meals that nurture your body. - Exercise regularly – Several studies have shown how exercise lifts our mood and staves off depression and you get to improve your physical health too.
- Avoid unhelpful habits – Cigarettes, drugs and alcohol are not helpful in large quantities and have long term effects which will bring on emotional problems.
- Sunlight go out and get some – The beach at San Tropez is great, but natural light during the day helps stimulate our own immune systems and keeps us healthy
- Try new things – new things challenge us and stimulate our cognitive processes.
- Help someone else – Besides being a great thing to do, you get a positive kick from it that helps to build your self-esteem.
- Give priority to yourself – you need to spend time looking after yourself, so whether is a look round the art galleries or a walk to enjoy nature, spend time doing something where there is no goal other than you feeling good.
- Be creative – even if you feel that you can’t draw or that you never wrote an essay you wanted to see the light of day, by getting creative you unleash that side of your brain associated with emotion and exercise it – you could always finger paint with your children
- Spend time with people you like or admire, people who are positive and who make you feel good about yourself. Take time to ask about the people you care about.
- Have a pet. A cheeky 10th option not for everybody, but studies have shown a drop in blood pressure just from stroking a pet. They also allow you to be responsible for another life and they reward you with unconditional love.
Hopefully you will see that there are several really simple straightforward things that you can do for your emotional health and you will reap the benefits every day.