Many believe in order to achieve health; they have to eat the right foods and exercise. Yes, there is truth to that, however, there is much to be said for the effects your mental health has on the rest of your body. Depression causes aches and pains; stress causes internal organ issues (not to mention exacerbating underlying heart conditions) and anxiety leads to a plethora of issues as well. This year, prioritize your mind, and make it a point to care for your emotional hygiene in the new year (and all year long).
For example, pay attention to your psychological pain. If you have a bad mood that lingers too long, don’t ignore it. Resolve within yourself the underlying issue of what is bothering you. Depression will lead you to cutting yourself off from friends, family, and society, causing your depression to worsen. Chronic loneliness can be devastating to your emotional and physical health. It can feel scary at first, but take the steps to keep connected in some way to keep you from becoming emotionally isolated.
You must battle negative thinking and protect your self-esteem, even if it’s from yourself. It’s your emotional immune system! Monitor your self-esteem and boost it when it feels low. Avoid negative self-talk and adopt a positive frame of mind. Distract yourself if you can’t bring yourself to think positive just yet with a task that requires concentration. Replaying scenes or words over and over in your mind will suck your time and pull you into an emotional vortex. Live in the now-not the past, or the future. Help pull yourself into the now by using your five senses. Pay attention to what you smell, see, hear, touch, and taste at that very moment. That action alone will distract your mind and direct you in the right direction!
We treat our friends with support, kind words, and understanding when they feel down or rejected, yet call ourselves names, and torture ourselves when we experience the same thing. Treat yourself the same as you would treat a friend when life has turned its back on you. Its not easy, I agree. We all know how to treat a cut or a cold, but we don’t know or understand how to treat rejection, failure, loneliness or guilt. Become mindful of your psychological health and adopt habits of good emotional hygiene. Learn more at our Healthy Happy Hours on how to redirect your mind and take care of your body inside and out. We can also teach you how essential oils can play a part in elevating your quality of life!
