Emotional Health Week

Today marks the start of Emotional Health Week; seven days dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of emotional health as a source of strength as we journey through life.

What is emotional health?

Your emotional health is your ability to manage the emotions that arise as you go through life, together with how you communicate and understand them. As these factors significantly impact upon many areas of your life e.g. work, family, friendships, the importance of emotional health should not be overlooked.

How can I support my own emotional health?

There are many simple yet effective steps that you can take that will help you.

These include:

Engaging in Physical Activity

Exercise benefits not only your body but your mind too, relieving stress and tension, reducing anxiety and improving your quality of sleep.

Quality Sleep

A regular sleep routine will ensure that you are rested and restored by day, ready to meet the challenges that the day brings with positivity and a clear mind.

Quality Nutrition

Both our moods and our physical energy levels are influenced by what we eat. Choosing to eat healthily will support your cognition and your emotional regulation.

Spending time in nature

Being outdoors, in nature, helps to rebalance us emotionally and promotes a sense of calm and wellbeing. It also provides us with the opportunity to see things differently, from a fresh perspective, leading to new insights and understandings.

Spending time with others

Being with those we care for is a healing balm that reduces stress and anxiety. Through experiencing a sense of belonging we feel grounded, comforted, seen and heard.

Spending time alone

Spending time alone can also be beneficial in that it provides an opportunity to pause, reflect and take stock. Being alone can take many forms including meditation, mindfulness, walking in Nature, or being engaged in a favourite activity e.g. music, art or yoga.

Reducing your screen time

Excessive screen time, especially on social media has been linked to heightened anxiety, low self-esteem and increased feelings of loneliness. By setting limits on your screen time, you will find that you have additional time to devote to other activities that will enhance your emotional health.

Practising gratitude

By making the time to notice the small, everyday things and moments that make you feel good, you will significantly enhance your emotional health. Studies have shown that through practising gratitude happiness is increased and feelings of depression and sadness are diminished.

Moving forward

Having read this blog the next step is to move forward. Even implementing just one idea can make a significant and positive difference to your emotional health, not just for this week, but for the rest of your life.