6 Ways to Practice Emotional Self-Care - Service Animal Registry of CaliforniaService Animal Registry of California

Different circumstances in our lives can significantly affect our emotions, whether it’s a breakup, work pressure, societal expectations, or losing a loved one. Without proper emotional management, all these negative things can pile up in our hearts resulting in a burden too heavy to bear.

So how can we manage our emotions?

One thing that we can do is practice emotional self-care. Self-care doesn’t mean you only pamper yourself with a massage or treating yourself to a spa day. Emotional self-care also self-care means connecting to your inner self and nurturing your feelings and emotions.

Here are ways to practice emotional self-care.

1. Acknowledge your feelings.

Some people tend to ignore their emotions and pretend everything’s alright, but this can eventually result in an emotional breakdown. Don’t ignore what you feel. If you’re sad, cry it all out. Once we become honest with ourselves, we can start understanding our circumstances and begin sorting out our feelings.

Get a journal. Identify and write what triggers your emotions. As you write those triggers, determine different ways you can manage them.

2. Have a loving support system.

Some adversaries can be very isolating. You might feel embarrassed or scared that people may judge you. But sometimes, a shoulder to cry on is what we need.

Reliable and supportive relationships help us be more emotionally healthy. It’s vital that we stay connected with our loved ones, especially during these isolating times.

3. Learn to maintain healthy boundaries.

“No” is a powerful word.

One way to practice self-care is by maintaining boundaries with work, study, or other people. Don’t let the environment consume your sense of self. You can protect your emotional health by having a personal space where you feel comfortable.

4. Consider getting an emotional support animal.

If it’s hard for you to open up to people, you can start opening up with a furry friend. An emotional support animal (ESA) is a different type of loving support system. An ESA is more than a pet. They can be our companions that help us relax and control our emotions. They can also help decrease anxiety and loneliness for people with mental illness.

5. Be more present.

Try to practice mindfulness or the act of being present. For example, try to close your eyes and take slow deep breaths. Just be aware of your environment and how it affects your feelings.

This generation can be easily distracted because of our devices and the internet. So try to lessen your use of social media. Instead, focus more on the people around you. Connecting with nature helps you meditate and leads to a calmer and more relaxed state of mind.

6. Get support from a therapist or mental health professional.

If your emotions get too overwhelming, consider getting help from a mental health professional. Having regular meetings with a therapist can also help. There is no shame in reaching out to these people. In fact, they can help you identify and manage your feelings.

Conclusion

You don’t have to walk on the journey of life alone. Yes, sometimes our circumstances make us feel very isolated. But remember that there are some people or animals who can be great companions that can help with emotional self-care.