Emotional Self-Care, are you interested in knowing how to practice it?

With self-care growing increasingly popular, many are wondering if this enlightening practice is nothing more than a trend. It hit the scene fast and rapidly lured in anyone in its path. Those who evaded the long arms of this evolving fad often mock the significance of it. Fortunately, that hasn’t stopped society and mental health professionals from delving further into this enhancing exercise. They’ve even uncovered different facets of self-care, including spiritual, physical, and emotional.

Emotional self-care involves caring for your emotional needs by first identifying and feeling them. As a result, you become more in tune with your mind, body, and spirit. When you take the time to address how you’re feeling, it allows you to connect with yourself on a more profound level. While some emotions are unpleasant and upsetting, neglecting them will cause them to fester. As you begin to master the art of emotional self-care, you’ll realize that it’s not necessary to sit with feelings that don’t serve you. Instead, all that’s required is simply acknowledging their presence.

Emotional self-care is important

Most notably, practicing emotional self-care is advantageous to your health. Science has long proven the connection between a healthy mind and optimal well-being. With that said, engaging in these uplifting exercises impacts your welfare. What’s more, working these muscles enables you to build emotional intelligence. As you sharpen your emotional intelligence, it becomes easier to ground yourself.

What’s classed as emotional self-care?

If you’re interested in pursuing this life-changing practice but are unsure of where to start, don’t fret. You don’t need to be friends with a Buddhist to embark on this journey of enlightenment. From establishing healthy boundaries to taking breaths, there are many ways to implement emotional self-care practices. Below, you’ll find a list of some other ways to confront, manage, and satisfy your emotional needs.

• Write down three good things that happened in your day
• Say no to things that make you uncomfortable
• Ask for help when it’s needed
• Don’t judge or shame yourself for feeling a type of way
• Be patient with yourself when things don’t go as planned

Journal prompts for emotional self-care

1. Do I trust my instincts? 
2. Do I find it easy to voice my opinions when needed?
3. Can I set healthy boundaries with people?
4. Can I say no to things I don’t want to do?
5. Am I a patient person?  
6. Can I easily express my feelings?
7. Am I happy?
8. What makes me sad?
9. How do I deal with anger?
10. How do I relax?
11. How do I connect with myself?
12. Can I be alone without feeling lonely?
13. Do I consider myself emotionally stable?
14. Do I follow the crowd?
15. Can I ask for help when needed?
16. Do I take responsibility for my actions?
17. How does giving to charity make me feel?
18. How easy is it for me to let go of bad feelings?
19. What do I love about myself?
20. What pushes my buttons?

Here are other ways to practice emotional self-care

1. Turn Your Attention Towards Your Body
   Before you can really tend to your emotions, you need to be aware of them! A great way to do this is by tuning in to your body. Notice the physical sensations that emotions bring up. Does this emotion have a temperature? A texture? A shape? Is it closed or open? Does it feel energizing or draining?
2. Ask for Help Before You Need It
   This is known as the “Pre-Ask.”1 Whether you are close to needing space, support, or a place to vent, asking for help before you need it allows those who you’re asking the time to get ready and be more present when they assist you.
3. Practice Mindfulness
   Mindfulness is simply the act of noticing the present moment, without judgment. Try sitting with your emotions and simply breathing. Your emotions aren’t good or bad, right or wrong, they just are. Part of emotional self-care is simply allowing your emotions to exist.
4. Consciously Choose How to Respond
   While we cannot choose what happens to us, we do get to choose how we respond to those circumstances. Whether you’re dealing with cancer, a pandemic, or a screaming toddler, you have the choice to take a deep breath, respond with kindness to yourself and others, and find ways to maintain hope and peace.
5. Limit Exposure to News
   It recommended that we limit the amount of news media we watch, read, or listen to, especially during difficult times. Take regular breaks from the news to enjoy healthy, fun activities.
6. Stay Connected to Others
   Strong, supportive relationships help us stay resilient and emotionally healthy. During isolating times like these, it’s more important than ever to reach out and to stay connected.
7. Practice Gratitude
   Shifting our focus from what is going wrong to what is going well is a great way to practice emotional self-care. Expressing gratitude as part of a daily routine can improve your mood and decrease stress.
8. Try a Meditation App
   There are many great meditation apps on the market today that offer timers with nice sounds, guided meditations, and other courses. This can be a great way to start your day, take a stress break, or fall asleep. Insight Timer and Headspace are two great ones to try.
9. Move Your Body
   It’s a well known fact that exercise not only benefits your body, but your mind as well. For many, exercise is a great supplement to therapy and/or medications for boosting your mood. Find a type of movement that you like to do and have fun with it; you’ll be a lot more likely to stick to it that way.
10. Laugh!
    Spend time with friends who make you laugh or go ahead and binge that funny show. Laughter is shown to decrease stress and improve your mood. It even has positive effects on the immune system. Emotional self-care is important, but that doesn’t mean it has to be serious!
11. Take Up a Relaxing Hobby
    Are you a knitter or guitarist? Do you love photography or bird watching? What about that hobby you used to love that you’ve let go of? Focusing your attention on a relaxing, fun hobby is a great way to de-stress and quiet your mind. If there is anything you have always wanted to learn to do, now is a great time to try it!

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