Taking care of your emotional health is as important as taking care of your physical body. Mental and emotional health is an integral part of general well-being. If you learn to nurture your emotional health you will manage to cope with life’s ups and downs and stress. Absence of skills in emotions control can put your mental health out of balance and create difficulties in building relationships.

 1. Think about your physical health

Try to eat only fresh products rich in vitamin B-12 and Omega-3 fatty acids. They keep chemical substances responsible for mood in your brain at an optimal level.

Having a good rest prevents your body from everyday worn-out, while the lack of sleep causes tiredness, stress, and irritation.

 2. Get enough fresh air and sunlight

Research shows that sunlight exposure increases production of serotonin, a chemical substance in your brain regulating your mood.

 3. Take care of yourself

Taking care of yourself favors mental and emotional health. Make time for yourself to satisfy your emotional needs. This can be reading a book or indulging in something you like. Concentrating and remaining in the “here and now” moment means dismissing thoughts about the future and the past. Focus on things you can control. Do one thing at a time, be open-minded, and develop flexibility when it comes to dealing with things and situations. This will help you be ready to face stress and avoid excess pressure.

 4. Meet your friends more often

Meeting with friends brings a sense of significance in other people’s eyes. When you have a good relationship with friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors you can boost a sense of emotional well-being and a sense of bond. Reach out to a friend you haven’t seen for a long time and schedule a meeting (better outdoors).

 5. Invest time in a new hobby or try something new

Learning a new skill is a challenge; it increases your level of concentration and brings good feelings. It can also boost your self-esteem and ability to solve problems and deal with situations, challenges, and people which life throws at you.

 6. Stress management

Try to stay resilient through everyday stressful situations. Yet if you can’t get rid of an event or a person which arouse antipathy, then you have to resolve this as soon as possible. If you feel stressed out before an upcoming exam then you need to evaluate the situation in perspective. Exams are inevitable. Not always avoiding stressful situations can have an immediate positive effect, but you surely need to learn this skill. Individual strategy can be a good choice here. Believe in yourself, reinterpret the situation, meditate, or take a short walk.

 7. Define your strong and weak points and establish boundaries

Know your weak points and develop your strong ones. Everyone has strong and weak points. Set realistic goals, choose thoroughly people you are going to keep by your side. These should be goal-oriented and positive people.

 8. Learn to be grateful

Scientists are assured that when you are grateful for things you already have like health, money or other valuable things, it helps you feel optimistic about the future and boost your mental health.

9. Express yourself

There are emotions which are toxic to your mental health. And you need to learn how to avoid expressing negative emotions and senses. Expressing your emotions can help to get rid of the mess in your life. Suppression of your emotions can lead to depression and anxiety. Each emotion is important and necessary. What makes it good or bad is its intensity (low or high), way of expression, and frequency.

 10. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you suffer from emotional distress

When you’re sad, anxious, disappointed, dismayed, or angry then you need to get things off your chest. Talk to someone you trust for example your spouse, friend, parent, sibling or any other relative. In case you feel like you need a more qualified helper then visit a doctor or a mental health professional. The sooner you ask for help, the better.