Tips To Help Your Emotional Wellness Woes

With everything going on in the world, you likely feel your mood change often, and that’s ok! While many are saying they’re trying to ‘stay positive’, it can sometimes be easier said than done. If, like us, you’ve been struggling to figure out how to process what you’re feeling, we’ve got some tips that may help with some of the emotional woes we’ve all been feeling.

Vulnerability

There’s no doubt — many of us feel vulnerable. Whether you’re feeling it physically or mentally, it can have a toll on your emotional wellbeing. Here are a few things the Bach® Team suggests to help you feel safe and a little less exposed.

• Make your home cozy & comforting
  

  Snuggle under some blankets, light some candles, bake a cake or even play fireplace sounds on your laptop. While blankets, fairy lights and the smell of baking might traditionally be associated with winter, there’s no reason to tuck away cozy winter items just yet, especially if they bring comfort when days are uncertain and challenging. (Here are our decor ideas for bringing nature into your space.)
  
  

• Self-care
  

  Taking time for yourself is always important. Whether that’s taking a bath or watching a cheesy, feel-good movie and eating popcorn, try to find a way to feel comfortable while focusing on you. Here’s a list of feel-good movies from Ranker.com in case you need a little inspo.
  
  

• Let it out
  

  Just as you would go to your parents’ bedroom when you woke up from a nightmare as a kid, talking to someone close to you when you feel unsafe or vulnerable can bring comfort. Talk to your family or pick up the phone to your best friend. If you can’t talk to anyone, then try writing your feelings in a journal — it could help you process them and feel a little safer. (Related: see our article on being alone.)

Loneliness

While many of us are on lockdown with our families or roommates, being physically cut off from others can be challenging. (Again, check out our article on being alone.) Thankfully, modern technology has provided numerous solution to this. TimeOut.com has a ranking of the best video apps so you can stay connected with everyone you love (and maybe even some people you don’t know on Houseparty!) Though a long catch-up is always nice, if you don’t have anything specific to talk about but still want human contact, playing games can be a fun way to stay connected. You could set up a weekly virtual pub quiz with your friends or use Houseparty’s in-app games.

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Anger or feeling overwhelmed

Feeling overwhelmed or angry is totally normal in today’s environment, but it still doesn’t feel good. Here are few ideas on how to emerge from those feelings:

• Firstly, slow down and focus on your breathing. Breathe in four 4 counts, and out for 4.
  
  
• Listen to some calming music and close your eyes, allowing your breath to settle. We’ve found soft piano music to be quite calming. Listening to just one instrument will allow you to focus on one thing, appreciate the melody and avoid being overwhelmed by too many sounds.
  
  
• Practicing meditation regularly can also help process certain emotions. Apps like Headspace, Aura and Calm are great for beginners, but here’s a link to The Honest Guys’ free meditation playlist on YouTube if you’d like to try it out.

Restlessness

Being inside all day is enough to get anyone feeling restless — whether you were a regular gym-goer, a runner or a playground mom, it’s likely your activity levels have decreased since isolation began. We’ve been trying to change up our workouts regularly to avoid boredom. Pilates, power yoga, yin yoga, HIIT, resistance band workouts, barre: these are a few of the many types of workouts you can find for free on YouTube! Though getting into a routine is great, try changing the time at which you exercise to help you feel a little less restless.

If you’re sitting at a desk all day, make sure you are getting up every hour for 5-10 minutes. Stretch your legs, walk around or make a cup of tea. (Related: our WFH tips.)

Sadness

Good food has got to be one of life’s greatest joys — even just the smell of cookies or sizzling garlic can be enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. If you’re feeling sad, take an hour or two to tackle a new recipe, make a healthy snack like homemade granola or indulge in a little treat. If you don’t feel like cooking, we’ve heard laughing can do wonders. Watch a comedy show or play a silly game with your family such as Heads Up to get you giggling in no time.

Scroll down for more articles or learn more about how emotions affect decisions, how emotions affect learning or our physical health, and 10 ways to improve your emotional health today.