Emotional Wellness

October is National Emotional Wellness Month

Emotional wellness encompasses the awareness, understanding, and acceptance of your emotions (Hagan, 2019). It's closely tied to mental health, a crucial aspect of our lives that deserves attention. While social media and other platforms frequently offer advice on mental health, these messages often get buried in the busyness of daily life. I want to emphasize the importance of emotional wellness and how we can prioritize it effectively, avoiding it getting lost in the everyday clutter.

Managing Stress

Stress is a prevalent issue within emotional wellness, especially for college students who face considerable pressure. Finding effective stress relief methods can be challenging, but taking a moment to step back and breathe deeply can be incredibly beneficial. As we navigate the intense midterm season, feelings of overwhelm are common. Everyone has their own ways to manage stress, whether through self-care practices, cleaning, walking, or meditating. When overwhelmed, taking a moment to breathe deeply can help refocus and regain control. It's essential to discover and practice what works best for you in managing stress and recognizing your emotions.

Emotional Wellness and Emotional Intelligence

Emotional wellness is intricately linked to emotional intelligence, which involves recognizing your own emotions and using them positively to interact with others. The four components of emotional intelligence are self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship management. Practicing these skills can enhance our understanding of emotions. Without this connection, managing stress, understanding our behaviors, and controlling our emotions can be difficult. Often, we're advised to suppress emotions like overwhelm, anger, sadness, or stress. However, acknowledging and working through these emotions leads to healthier emotional wellness and improved emotional intelligence.

Prioritizing Emotional Wellness

Everyone experiences emotions and stress. It's vital to acknowledge these feelings and prioritize them instead of ignoring them. By prioritizing our emotions and practicing healthy habits, we can improve our mental health. During October, take the time to practice emotional wellness. Identify ways to relieve stress, recognize your emotions, and make decisions that prioritize your mental health. Make your emotional well-being a priority.

For more tips on emotional wellness, check out the blog "5 Ways to Improve Your Emotional Wellness" on SwiftCloud's website [here](https://www.swiftcloud.co.uk/blog-5-ways/).

By making intentional changes in our daily routines, we can enhance our emotional wellness and lead healthier, happier lives.