Daily Practices for Emotional Wellness
Daily Practices for Emotional Wellness By Donna Wirthlin, M.Ed, BSN, RN Life can be hectic on a good day (or in a good year). Along comes 2020 and even more chaos and distress present itself in the forms of: depression, anxiety and worry, uncertainty, fear, loneliness and more. While we cannot control certain aspects of life and what may or may not happen, we can strive to maintain or improve our own Emotional Wellness. By doing so, we can strengthen our ability to face challenges and keep a positive outlook. Included below are techniques that may be of assistance to you in having robust Emotional Wellness. ⦁ Reduce stress. Stress can be good (as in the “Fight or Flight” effect) or bad (as in worrying at 3 a.m. about a situation that has little likelihood of happening). Stress is a physiological response and if ongoing, chronic stress can lead to health issues (heart disease, poor sleep, weight gain, memory problems, etc.). Try these practices to lessen stress levels: ⦁ Re