This week is Emotional Health Awareness Week ( 24th-28th February). An opportunity for raising awareness of the importance of emotional health and how good emotional health can support us through the challenges that life throws at us. This week aims to help us understand and prioritise our emotional health.Good emotional health is being aware of, understanding and managing our whole range of emotions. Emotional health is about how we think and feel. It is about our sense of wellbeing, our ability to cope with life events and how we acknowledge our own emotions as well as those of others. It doesn’t mean being happy all of the time (Samaritans).
Tips for supporting your emotional health:
To build resilience:
Develop healthy physical habits (eat more fruit and vegetables, drink water, move more for example).
Take time for yourself each day.
Look at problems from different angles.
Learn from your mistakes.
Practice gratitude.
Explore your beliefs about the meaning and purpose of life.
Tap into social connections and community.
To manage stress:
Get enough sleep.
Exercise regularly.
Build a social support network.
Set priorities in your day.
Show compassion for yourself.
Try relaxation methods.
Seek help.
To be more mindful
Take some deep breaths 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 often.
Enjoy a stroll, notice the sights around you.
Practice mindful eating. Be aware of each bite and when you’re full.
Be aware of your body. Do a mental scan, bring your attention to how each part feels.
Find mindfulness resources, including online programs.
To read more tips and to download the full list provided by the National Institute of Health click here.
Why not focus on a couple of tips over the next few weeks, to help build more positive emotions.
Comments