In October, we recognize Emotional Wellness Month! It’s a great opportunity to take a step back and do a self-check on your mental and emotional health. But, what does it mean to be emotionally well?
An emotionally well person is ready to adapt to change and difficult times, as well as successfully handle the stressors that come along in life. Our day-to-day feelings and emotions play an important role in how we deal with life’s changes. So, maintaining the ability to recognize and understand where you are in your journey with emotional wellness is key to being mentally prepared for any challenges that come your way.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services shared a great guide to give you tools to support your emotional wellness, and we’ve highlighted their tips below. To learn more about each step, visit their website.
Consider these 6 good habits:
Build Resilience: Focus on your strengths and use them to build yourself up!
Reduce Stress: It’s normal to feel stressed from time to time. If you are feeling chronic stress, it’s important to find ways to decompress, like going for a walk, reading a book, or listening to music.
Get Quality Sleep: The right amount of sleep improves your physical and mental health. Stop scrolling and go to bed on time!
Strengthen Social Connections: Make sure you are staying in touch, even if it’s just a brief interaction, with your friends, family, and neighbors. Connecting with them can influence the biology of your well-being.
Cope with Loss: Losing a loved one can change your whole world. Learning healthy ways to cope with loss, like going to therapy, will support your overall emotional wellness. It’s important not to run away from these feelings.
Be Mindful: Don’t live your life on autopilot! Take time to step back and focus on how you are doing emotionally and what’s happening in the world around you.
No one is perfect, and emotional wellness doesn’t just happen on its own. It takes dedicated effort and attention to your emotional health to feel truly prepared for change and the stress of life. Consider breaking down the tips above into smaller pieces, focusing on one tip a week or even for the month. A small amount of dedicated time to this will go a long way.