Emotional self-care is often overlooked as we tend to nurture what’s on the outside before paying mind to what’s within. While any form of self-care can have a positive impact, it’s essential to focus on all aspects of ourselves that need treatment. Just like our bodies yearn for salt baths, massages, and daily skincare regimens, our emotions crave the same attention. A proper self-care routine comes from nourishing everything from our exterior inward.
Don’t get me wrong, many types of physical self-care can also serve our emotions. For instance, yoga doubles as a favorable practice for the body and allows a deeper connection with our inner selves. Movement practices can provide an emotional release that lifts our spirits and makes us feel good. But there are other ways to tend to what’s inside without rolling out your mat. Below are four types of emotional self-care that you can practice today to give all parts of yourself the genuine care you need.
4 important emotional self-care activities
visualize your feelings
Upon waking up in the morning, you may be itching for five more minutes of shuteye or mindless scrolling through your feed. An option that better serves your emotional well-being (and makes a great first step in your morning routine) would be to visualize your feelings. Ask yourself: are you feeling sleepy because you were up late to make that work deadline, or is your grogginess the result of arguing with your significant other until the wee hours of the morning?
Whatever the reasons for your tiredness, write them in a journal to better understand why you feel a certain way. Maybe even express them through a sketch, creating a drawing of your emotions on paper. Once your thoughts are flowing and you feel more awake, you can reflect on more emotions, like thoughts about the day before, or anxieties you’re having about the one ahead. Plus, reflecting on what you’ve written may allow you to release some of those pent-up feelings you carried with you into the next day.
be mindful of your reactions
It’s happened to all of us. You start the day off right, feeling refreshed until someone or something disrupts your mood, throwing your day off track. This could be caused by your train running late, making you miss your early meeting, or stubbing your toe on your way out the door. No matter how your morning began, practice being mindful of your reactions to set the tone for the rest of the day.
Notice how you responded and think of how you could react more positively in the future. Did you accept what was happening, knowing that you couldn’t change it, or let it affect the rest of your morning? Did you fixate on your problem or let it go? How we react to situations can positively or negatively affect the outcome, and by becoming aware of our responses, we can adjust them accordingly.
let go of what doesn’t serve you
Many things can affect our emotional states, such as a disagreement with a colleague or a friend who finds picking at your insecurities a weekly hobby during happy hour. A helpful way to deal with these stressors is to let go of what doesn’t serve you instead of allowing their words to tear you down.
A dispute with a co-worker doesn’t have to lead to anxiety every time you cross paths. And you certainly shouldn’t avoid your favorite margarita bar due to your so-called friend’s unwanted opinions. Learning to let go of the outside forces that don’t serve you is a practice in mindfulness that will ultimately offer you more space to focus on what does make you feel good.
recap your day with gratitude
Another way to focus on your emotional self-care is to recap your day with gratitude when you’re winding down at the night’s end. Make a mental note of everything from the day that you are grateful for, whether that be a text from your mom that made you smile or being able to watch the sunset during your commute home.
Thinking of all the good things you experienced can attract positive feelings and remind you of the great things in your life. The fact that you can cuddle on the couch at night with your dog or indulge in a bowl of ice cream for a bedtime snack are all reasons to express gratitude. This practice can help you sleep better, too, taking your self-care routine to new heights.
How do you prioritize your emotional self-care? Click here for 8 wellness apps that can help as well!
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