As human beings, we go through a mixture of emotions in just a single day in our lives. They control us and help us in making life choices. Emotion is a subjective state of mind of an individual, a product of thoughts or behaviours, or simply the environment that we are in. The primary emotions are love, joy, surprise, anger, and sadness. These emotions can be broken down into secondary and tertiary emotions; anger can be broken down into frustration and disappointment, and they can further be broken down into confusion and unpleasantness
Emotional wellness refers to having an understanding of one’s own emotions and those of others, and being able to handle them in a healthy manner. Also emotional intelligence, the awareness of one’s own emotions, and finding out ways to keep it healthy is emotional wellness; it is the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times. How you feel affects how you carry yourself, your relationships, work-life and social life. It also helps in keeping a check on your mental and physical health. Emotional wellness can be maintained in a lot of ways; keeping a track of how one feels is necessary to understand the reasons behind a low mood. This, in turn, helps in handling negative emotions and finding ways to improve them.
A few things that can boost emotional wellness are:
Talking about your feelings, writing them down: Find a trusted friend or a good therapist to talk to- someone who can validate your emotions and help you understand what those emotions are, what causes them, and ways to overcome them.
Brightening your outlook: Having fewer negative emotions will help you bounce back relatively easily from difficult situations. This is also called resilience.
Get good sleep: Sleep affects both your mental and physical health. Getting adequate rest helps in replenishing your mind. It also helps with clearer thoughts.
Being mindful: The concept is very simple- simply being present in the moment. This requires commitment and practice, and also reduces stress.
Keeping yourself active: Keep your body moving. Exercise also works well for people who have mild or moderate depression and don't need to be on medication. Think of it as a great tool for stress management.
Sex and intimacy: Being in a committed relationship will help in building your self-esteem. It also makes you feel good about yourself.
Develop a new hobby: Find a side hustle, something that makes you happy and keeps you going. It helps in focusing on something that you are passionate about. Even if it is not a source of income, it can be a source of emotional well being.
Manage your time and set goals: Keep a time schedule on things that you want to work on. Setting time boundaries will help keep track of the day as well as reduce stress.
Being assertive: Keep personal boundaries and know your worth. Engage in conversations and convey messages diplomatically and sternly at the same time.
Learn to say NO and refrain from overextending yourself: An extension of the previous point, if you try to do more than you can handle, you will only end up frustrated and stressed out. If someone asks you to do something you absolutely can't do, say no. At the very least, ask for help. And if you can't do it, explain why kindly but firmly.
Taking care of your mind is important to lead a healthy lifestyle. It is equally important as taking care of your body. When things get difficult and out of hand, it is recommended to meet a mental health professional to help you navigate your thoughts and moods to reach emotional wellness.
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