People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions, their thoughts, and their feelings and therefore have very few regrets in their lives.
Emotional health is especially important for overthinkers, who tend to dissect every interaction, looking for errors in their conduct or mistakes that they may have made. Imagine if as an overthinker, you had a firmer grip on your emotions?
That’s exactly what our life hacks for living an emotionally healthier life will help you learn so that you can keep the overthinking and dissecting to the barest minimum.
Being able to effectively identify, channel and communicate the emotions that you’re feeling improves the relationship that you have with other people.
Below are ten life hacks for living an emotionally healthier life.
1. Regulate your breathing
When we are stressed, our breathing speeds up, and adrenaline is produced in our bodies in order to help us stay on top of the situation.
[bctt tweet=”When we are stressed, our breathing speeds up, and adrenaline is produced in our bodies in order to help us stay on top of the situation.” username=”Sidomex”]
To counter this, use the recommended breathing technique which is four counts in, four counts holding your breath, and four counts on the exhale.
This lowers your heart rate and helps you stay calm in tense situations.
2. Create a positive mantra
Come up with a short, positive mantra that you can chant to yourself whenever you feel like you’re losing your grip on things.
[bctt tweet=”Come up with a short, positive mantra that you can chant to yourself whenever you feel like you’re losing your grip on things.” username=”Sidomex”]
Some examples are: “I am in charge of how I feel and today I am choosing happiness”, “I will not compare myself to strangers on the Internet,” and these will help you stay in touch with yourself and your emotions.
3. Think before you act/speak
Don’t just blurt things out or react immediately to things that may trigger you.
When something happens to you or if you’re annoyed by something someone has said, simply take a few breaths and think about your reaction, before you do react to things.
[bctt tweet=”When something happens to you or if you’re annoyed by something someone has said, simply take a few breaths and think about your reaction, before you do react to things.” username=”Sidomex”]
You will find that doing this will minimise regrets, making sure that you frequently say only the right things.
4. Keep a journal
Writing things down in a journal can be the perfect balm you need to ease your emotions after a particularly stressful interaction.
[bctt tweet=”Writing things down in a journal can be the perfect balm you need to ease your emotions after a particularly stressful interaction.” username=”Sidomex”]
Get yourself a journal or a small book and write honestly in it every day. Treat it like your virtual therapist and spill all your emotions into it.
You will notice that with every new entry into your journal, you’ll feel even freer.
5. Try doing some exercise
Exercise isn’t only for your body to benefit from; it is also to keep your mind sharp and fit.
Exercise takes your mind off the stressful things and interactions and generally helps you feel better, clearing your mind in the process.
[bctt tweet=”Exercise takes your mind off the stressful things and interactions and generally helps you feel better, clearing your mind in the process.” username=”Sidomex”]
On the days when you cant get down to the gym, you can also do some light exercises – climb a flight of stairs, jog over a distance, or just take a walk to clear your head.
6. Manage stress
If you don’t find a way to manage stress, you will have a short fuse and will become emotionally unhealthy, grumbling and snapping at everyone and everything.
Get enough sleep, read books, and make sure you take the time to destress once in a while.
[bctt tweet=”Get enough sleep, read books, and make sure you take the time to destress once in a while. ” username=”Sidomex”]
Try breathing exercise, meditation, finding a calm spot to put your feet up and read a book, or anything else that works for you.
7. Don’t take things personally
Learn not to take things personally. People are going through personal battles every day and are not always in control of their emotions.
[bctt tweet=”People are going through personal battles every day and are not always in control of their emotions.” username=”Sidomex”]
Sometimes, even the best person you know will lash out. Try not to take things personally, and instead be understanding and have empathy.
Don’t forget to stand up for yourself, but at the same time, don’t go overboard. Find a balance.
8. Find purpose
Find your passions and follow them. Find the things that you love and dedicate your time to making the most of it.
[bctt tweet=”Find your passions and follow them. Find the things that you love and dedicate your time to making the most of it.” username=”Sidomex”]
You’ll find that doing this increases the level of satisfaction you have in your life and makes you feel more relaxed and more at peace inside.
Find a purpose, make it your centre, and you’ll see that people won’t be able to easily rock you.
9. Establish and maintain boundaries
Every relationship in this world, no matter the type, needs to have preset boundaries or it won’t last.
[bctt tweet=”Every relationship in this world, no matter the type, needs to have preset boundaries or it won’t last.” username=”Sidomex”]
You need to establish balance for yourself and stick to them no matter what. If you move from them, you will give people the chance to take liberties with many other things in your life.
Frustrations will build inside you and you will inevitably lash out.
10. Allow yourself to feel your emotions
Don’t try to numb out your emotions of anger, discontent, sadness, happiness, pride, disappointment, and whatnot.
[bctt tweet=”Don’t try to numb out your emotions of anger, discontent, sadness, happiness, pride, disappointment, and whatnot.” username=”Sidomex”]
Doing so will gradually chip away at your sense of self until you become a shell of yourself. Instead, allow yourself to feel, process why you’re feeling that way and how you can move on from it.
When your emotional health begins to improve, you’ll thank yourself for it.
And those are the life hacks for living an emotionally healthier life. Apply these in your life and watch as you achieve happiness and a deeper sense of satisfaction in your life starting today.
23 thoughts on “Heart to heart: Life hacks for living an emotionally healthier life”