Emotional Health: 12 Natural Ways to Feel Better Now

 

Did you know that you can actually makes moves that will cause you to feel better now?

 

Yes, that’s right… now.  

 

We’ve all had those sad gloomy days where it seems like whatever could go wrong, goes wrong.

 

You are not alone.

 

We don’t have to settle for feeling like this.

 

We need to pay attention to these feelings because, unfortunately, our emotional health can affect every aspect of our lives.

 

Those with control over their emotions and behaviors are considered to be emotionally healthy. These people can handle what comes at them, are able to build strong relationships and move on from tough times. You might not realize that it takes a lot of effort to maintain a healthy emotional attitude. Nevertheless, this can be YOU. You can practice sound emotion health and get stronger.

Emotional health refers to your overall well-being. It’s how you feel about yourself, your relationships, and the way you manage your feelings.

When you are feeling down or like your emotions are out of control, you don’t (always) have to turn to medicine cabinet for treatment. You can re balance your body and mind naturally.

Here are 12 simple ways to feel better now. So join the ranks of the emotional strong and dive in.

 

1. Take a 30 minute nap: You’d be utterly surprised how a quick 30 minute nap can recharge your batteries and help you feel amazing. A huge part of being emotionally healthy comes from getting enough rest. Sometimes our bodies require more rest during periods of high stress, intense workouts, recovering from an illness or just times of plain overwhelm. The world can suddenly look much brighter after a good nap.
2. Try a gentle exercise routine: I’m all for body boot camp and Cross Fit, but sometimes those high intensity workouts can release a ton of cortisol, the stress hormone, and leave you feeling depleted, run down and plain sad. During times of emotional stress, try to exercise in a way that restores your body and mind while boosting your overall mood. Try yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, walking or any type of movements that make you feel good. Optimally, 30 minutes of exercise a day is what you should get, even if you have to break it into two or three segments. Gentle exercise is known to reduce depression and stress. It doesn’t have to interfere with your daily routine, just look for ways to add a little bit more activity into your day. Walk the dog one more time around the park, take the stairs or even tend to the garden.
3. Dive deep into self awareness: Get to know your stress points and find ways to reduce them. Learn how to balance your emotions and the stressors you cannot eliminate from your life. Recognize how expressing emotions appropriately helps you stay positive. Take note of when you handle things properly and how much better you feel. Negative emotions can lead to depression and anxiety, so they should be avoided when possible.
4. Create or join a strong support network: A strong support network of close friends could be exactly what you need to get over the hump. Someone you trust and can turn to for encouragement will boost your mood, sometimes even instantly.
5. Tidy up your house: I know. I know. This sounds crazy. How can cleaning my house lift my mood. It is actually a fact that people are happier when their living environment is neat and clean. That sink full of dirty dishes might be subconsciously affecting you more than you realize. Try playing some upbeat music, setting a timer for an hour, and see how much you can get done. The combination of listening to music, moving your body and completing a much needed task can create a sense of calm and happiness and accomplishment. It’s a creative way to feel better.
6. Cuddle or pet your cat or dog: Pets can make you feel loved and needed unconditionally. Studies show that spending time with a pet can reduce stress and blood pressure.
7. Go for a nature walk: Getting outside and into to nature can instantly change your perspective on many things. Breathing in fresh air makes you feel more alive. Seeing the beauty of nature has a way of centering us and reminding us of what’s most important in life. Walking in nature can also cause you to focus mentally and even come up with creative solutions to many of life’s challenges. It also can  release a sense of gratitude within us.
8. Eat a healthy snack: Sometimes during times of emotional stress, good nutrition goes right out of the window. Seize this opportunity to grab a great tasting healthy snack. Now might not be the time for carrots and celery. Dark chocolate and almond butter might just do the trick. Did you know that dark chocolate contains tryptophan, which is an amino acid  that helps the brain make serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes us feel happy and satisfied. Other components of chocolate that may contribute to a burst of happiness are phenylethylalanine and theobromine. Phenylethylalanine is a natural acting antidepressant and produces the same feelings one may experience when falling in love, such as increased heart rate, alertness, and motivation. Theobromine simulates a high feeling thereby producing a relaxing effect and relieving stress. Be sure not to over indulge though. 🙂
9. Take the day off: You might just need a mental health day. Taking a day off from your normal routine is a great natural way to feel better emotionally. Sometimes life just tugs at us too hard from every direction. When this happens, we might just need an emotional time out.
10. Get a Massage: The health benefits of massage are well documented. A massage can instantly release the emotionally stress that you’re holding on to in your body. Massage allows you to relax, relieve tension and focus on self care. It’s a great way to feel better emotionally and physically.
11. Soak in a hot Epsom salt bath: We live in such a fast paced society that we often forget that the house came with a tub for a reason. This indulgent natural home remedy for emotional stress is widely overlooked. According to  psychologist Neil Morris, studies show that soaking in a hot bath can literally elevate your mood; a natural way to feel better.
12. Practice the art of focusing on the present moment: There is a lot of buzz these days about mindfulness and focusing on the present moment and rightfully so. This practice alone can calm you down and is one of the best ways to feel better NOW. Pun  intended. According to Mental Health Foundation: Mindfulness is an integrative mind-body approach that helps people manage their thoughts and feelings and mental health. Mindfulness helps you to become aware of your thoughts, feelings and body sensations instead of being overwhelmed by them. In fact, mindfulness has been shown to increase of activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, that part of the brain that’s associated with positive emotion.

 

Taking care of your emotional health through natural, alternative methods can keep your mind sharp, your body healthy, and your emotions in control. Remember, you are in control of your emotional health and only you can make positive changes to it.

 

What are some of the natural ways you use to feel better when you’re having a sucky day? 

 

X O

 

Elaine