October Is Emotional Wellness Month

Initiated in October of 2004, Emotional Wellness Month focuses on ways to work toward a positive mindset and the achievement of overall mental well-being.

Staying Positive and Boosting Your Emotional Wellness

How you feel can affect your ability to carry out everyday activities, your relationships, and your overall mental health. How you react to your experiences and feelings can change over time. Emotional wellness is the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

At times it is hard to be optimistic and have a positive outlook on your current situation and the uncertainty of things to come. But having a positive attitude toward life in general goes a long way in achieving emotional wellness. Planning activities to look forward to, focusing on others and not just dwelling on your inner emotions, reaching out to loved ones for support; all of these actions can aid in boosting your emotional well-being.

The Science of Smiling

Did you know that the physical act of smiling can actually make you happier? A psychological study with more than 10,000 participants has proven that the emotions associated with certain facial expressions may be triggered by simply making those facial expressions. When you smile, your brain recognizes those specific muscle movements, automatically associating them with the correlating emotion of happiness. This is not to say that forcing a smile should be your only means of attaining emotional wellness. But it might just provide the little boost that helps turn a bad day into a good one.

African American female smiling

Effectively Managing Stress

In a past article, we delved into the different forms of stress and how to cope with them. There are a variety of ways to manage and mitigate stress and anxiety. And while some methods work for one person, that does not necessarily mean they will work for someone else. Everybody is unique, so it is important to find the coping methods that work best you personally.

To Help Manage Stress:

  • Get enough sleep.
  • Exercise regularly. Just 30 minutes a day of walking can boost mood and reduce stress.
  • Build a social support network.
  • Set priorities. Decide what must get done and what can wait. Say no to new tasks if they are putting you into overload.
  • Think positive. Note what you’ve accomplished at the end of the day, not what you’ve failed to do.
  • Try relaxation methods. Mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or tai chi may help.

NIH

The stress management tips above are definitely helpful; however, there are plenty of other ways to manage stress, so keep an open mind and maybe conduct some research of your own.

Woman meditating on a mountain

Live In The Present

Practicing mindfulness and trying to fully live in the present moment can be extremely useful tools for achieving emotional wellness. Even while reading this sentence, there is a good chance that your mind is wandering elsewhere, possibly causing you to experience unnecessary anxiety. Taking some deep breaths while focusing on the sensations occurring inside and outside of your body can help bring you back to the present moment, enabling you to live, experience, and enjoy what is happening right now.

 
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