Explore the Wellness Wheel: Social/Emotional Wellness

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What have we learned about Emotional Wellbeing?

We have always heard that taking care of our mental wellbeing is important, but in the past two years, we have started to see and feel just how much mental wellbeing affects our overall wellness. After being forced to slow down during the first part of the pandemic, many of us have started to understand how pumping the brakes improves our health and happiness. Conversely, COVID-19 has recently  exposed us to stressors that seemed unfathomable a few years ago, and many of us are suffering physically and mentally. It is now more important than every to prioritize our emotional wellbeing. 

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What does it mean to be emotionally well?
  • Managing stress with healthy coping mechanisms
  • Reducing stress by asking for help or delegating tasks
  • Finding purpose and meaning in life
  • Having a positive outlook on the future
  • Feeling connection to one's community
  • Being aware of and feeling in control of one's emotions

Taking care of your emotional wellness is like a muscle you have to work out on a regular basis.
You can't store up Emotional Wellbeing self -care, just like ...

You can't sleep for a week and then stay awake for a month straight.
You can't eat a whole grocery store and then not eat for a year.
You can't pee out a lake and then never pee again. 
You can't take a month long vacation and then never have a weekend off the rest of your career. 

Taking care of your emotional wellbeing has to happen regularly. 

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Do you need to MANAGE your stress or REDUCE your stress?

Healthy Coping Mechanisms to Manage Stress

   Regulating your parasympathetic nervous system
  • yoga 
  • meditation
  • deep breathing
  • hugging a family member or snuggling a pet
    Physical self-care
  • Exercising regularly
  • Getting enough hours of quality sleep
  • Eating a balanced diet
    Reaching out to your community 
  • Debriefing or venting with friends
  • Scheduling fun activities to get your mind off stress
  • Supporting others to bring yourself fulfillment     
    Relaxing activities 
  • reading books or watching movies
  • taking a bubble bath
  • listening to music 
  • spending time out in nature, hiking or just relaxing outside!
Reducing Overall Load of Stress
   
  Asking for help!
  • Counseling or therapy
  • Asking family members to help out with household chores: grocery runs, cleaning, picking up the kids meal prepping
  • Delegating work tasks to coworkers or subordinates
  • Saying "not right now" to new responsibilities when your plate is too full


Community connections 

Feeling connected to community is a fundamental human need. Even if you identify as an "introvert" it is necessary to find connections with other people in an amount that feels good to you. Try some of these ideas and watch your social wellbeing flourish!

  • Volunteering for a cause you believe in
  • Reaching out to a friend you haven't seen in a while (they will likely be very happy to reconnect!)
  • Attending a community event 
  • Attending a book club at the library (virtual or in person!)
  • Forming a dinner club with a group of friends. Rotate who hosts each month!
  • Starting a lunch walking club with your coworkers
  • Checking in with elderly neighbors or family members
  • Spending more time with your pup at the dog park!
Which of these strategies is most important to you? Let us know in the comments. 

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