When most people think about wellness, they focus on things like nutrition and physical fitness. These factors are important, but true wellness involves more than just eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Your emotional well-being plays a key role in your overall state of health.
If you feel like your emotional wellness could use a boost, a few simple strategies can help.
Manage Your Stress
Stress is damaging to both your physical and emotional well-being. Studies show that nearly one third of Americans report that stress has had a significant impact on their health.1 While it’s impossible to remove all stress from your life, you can change the way you cope with stressful situations.
The key to stress management is to figure out what activities help bring you a sense of calm. For many people, physical activity provides a good outlet for stress. Others may prefer yoga, meditation, writing in a journal or playing with a pet. If you don’t have time for any of these activities, even a minute of deep-breathing exercises can help calm and center you.
Look on the Bright Side
It’s easy to become consumed by negative thought patterns, especially if you find yourself surrounded by negative people and influences in your life. Unfortunately, telling yourself that you’re not going to get that promotion or that you’re not good enough for a certain relationship often turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Things may not always work out the way you planned, but having a positive outlook can boost your chances of achieving your goals. In addition, a positive attitude can help you look and feel more confident. Break the cycle of negativity by writing down positive affirmations and pulling them out when you need them. Surround yourself with as many positive people as you can. When it becomes necessary to spend time with a negative person, mentally prepare yourself for the encounter in advance and limit the interaction as much as possible.
Accept Your Imperfections
Perfect is the enemy of the good.2 This concept is important to keep in mind when you’re trying to improve your emotional wellness. Nobody is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. Once you accept this truth, you can begin to acknowledge your mistakes and move forward. It’s healthier to choose to learn from past mistakes and focus on what you can do differently going forward.
Emotional wellness can have a big impact on your health and overall happiness. When you’re able to manage stress, accept your feelings and maintain a positive outlook, you’ll be better equipped to weather rough patches in life.
If you find yourself struggling to improve your emotional wellness, a professional can help you get on the right track. The counselors at Mazzitti & Sullivan are ready to help. Call us today to get more information about our counseling services or to schedule an appointment.