What is ’emotional wellness’?
Last month was Emotional Wellness Month. Our mental and emotional well-being is even more important right now than it has ever been, especially with the current situation we are all facing.
The term ’emotional wellness’ refers to being aware of our emotions and then trying to understand and accept them. Occasionally we may have to challenge or manage these feelings to work out why we feel a certain way.
It is really important for us to try and be in the present moment and not to wish life away by always looking to the future or by dwelling on things that we wish we could’ve changed in the past. By being in the ‘here and now’ we can start to slow down and really engage with what’s going on around us and how this makes us feel.
Mindfulness is another term that gets thrown around a lot, but it really is something that we should all try and practise that little bit more. Being kind to ourselves and accepting our feelings can make a huge difference to how we deal with situations we are faced with – big or small.
How you can help yourself
There are some businesses at Brogdale Farm which are perfect for helping you relax and unwind. The Country Practice offers a wide range of treatments for your physical and emotional well-being; Brogdale Collections runs fabulous rural courses to help you learn something new whilst spending time outdoors; The Courtyard at Brogdale if you fancy treating yourself to lunch or afternoon tea with friends or family.
Why not pay them a visit once lockdown has ended? In the meantime, below are a few tips to help you be kinder to yourselves and to be more ‘in the moment.’
- A cup of tea (or any hot drink of your choice) can solve most of life’s problems! It may sound silly, but the simple process of making the tea can help to clear your mind, enable you to take a deep breath and help you focus on the task in hand. Simple things like filling up the kettle and waiting for it to boil gives you a few moments to pause and to be mindful. Sitting quietly for a few minutes to notice the sound the kettle makes when it’s boiling, the warmth of the mug in your hands and how the drink tastes brings you into the ‘here and now’. Focusing on your senses can really help if you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed and need to feel a bit more grounded.
- Getting outside in the fresh air can work wonders. You don’t have to be sporty or go for a grueling run to get the endorphins flowing. A short leisurely 15 minute walk can really help lift your mood and shift any negative or low emotions you may have. With so many of us having to work from home at the moment, it’s very easy to find ourselves sitting down and staring at a screen all day with no other interactions or reasons to get up. It can easily get to 6pm and we’ve walked about 20 steps all day (mostly to the fridge and back in my case!!) so a little walk can shake things up a little bit and keep you feeling positive and uplifted.
- Every night before I go to sleep, I always ask myself “what three good things happened today?” Even if I’ve had a particularly bad day, I will still manage to find three small good things that I can say went well or made me feel good. Whether you had a good chat with a friend, enjoyed a nice sandwich, watched a new film that made you laugh or had a cuddle with your dog, you can always find some little positives that can help you to remember that it’s not all bad. It’s so easy to compare yourselves to other peoples achievements and feel like you’re not good enough or not sucessful enough. However, when you start to actively seek some small positives, it will remind you that good things do happen everyday and that sometimes the little things can really make such a positive influnce on your life and mindset. Practising some reflection and listing the things you are grateful for can really help you to feel positive and humble.
- Give yourself the advice you would give your best friend. Would you tell someone that their feelings were stupid? Would you tell them to “just get over it” or “deal with it” if they came to you with a problem? Probably not. So why are we always so harsh on ourselves? It’s so common for us to downplay any achievements or success and focus on the negatives instead. Make the effort to congratulate yourself when things go well and then be kind, patient and calm when things might not go to plan or when you make a mistake. Our thoughts or internal monologue is usually tied to our self worth. It would be pretty draining if you had to listen to someone telling you that you that you were wrong, fat or lazy all day long; but if we are constantly telling ourselves these sorts of things, how is that any different? Choose some kind words and then say them out loud to yourself (or write them down if you’d prefer). Reassure yourself that you are doing the best you can and that you are amazing. The person you spend the most time with each day is YOU, so be kind, be caring and be gentle on yourself.
- What makes you lose track of time? Is there a particular hobby or activity that you enjoy so much that you could do it all day long and never get bored? Do more of that! Doing things that bring us joy and let us be in the present moment are great mood boosters. Make time to put your phone down and do something that you love! Whether its reading, playing a game, DIY, gardening or whipping up some new recipes, doing things that make us feel excited, relaxed or happy are so important right now.
