Emotional health is an important part of our general well-being , which also includes our physical and social health. Nowadays, much is said about emotional health and happiness, but… what exactly is emotional health? How can we improve it? In this article I will talk about this concept and give you some tips to enjoy a better psychological well-being.

What is emotional health

For a long time, it was stated that general health is equal to the absence of illness; however, in 1947 the WHO defined this concept as " a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being". In other words, to enjoy good general health, we must have good physical health, psychological well-being and social well-being, which includes not only good quality interpersonal relationships and friendships, but also decent employment, a stable economic situation, etc.

When we talk about mental well-being, we are referring to emotional health , a complex concept that refers to feeling good about oneself and being aligned with one’s objectives and motivations. It is a feeling of satisfaction, in which the future is perceived with optimism and hope. People with good emotional health feel that life has great meaning and purpose, are able to cope with adversity and stress, enjoy a balance between work, rest and leisure, are self-confident and have high self-esteem.

Tips for Improving Emotional Health

Enjoying good emotional health has a lot to do with how we perceive the world around us and with carrying out healthy habits. That is why you can follow a series of strategies that will help you enjoy greater emotional health.

1. Do an Emotional Intelligence workshop

Emotional intelligence is one of the most important constructs of psychology today, since emotionally intelligent people enjoy greater well-being, have greater self-knowledge, make better decisions, manage stress better , communicate better, have healthier interpersonal relationships, among other virtues that you can see in the article: "The 10 benefits of emotional intelligence"

Luckily, it is possible to improve emotional intelligence and the ability to understand and regulate emotions. There are many workshops that help you become an emotionally intelligent person.

2. Do sport

General well-being, as I have said, is made up of three main areas: physical, mental and social health. These vital areas are related to each other, so enjoying good physical health has a positive impact on our mental well-being .

In this sense, physical exercise becomes essential, as we explain in our article "The 10 psychological benefits of physical exercise". Doing sport not only helps us to enjoy a better cardiovascular health and a good body, but it also allows us to release endorphins, serotonin, noradrenaline and other neurotransmitters provoke pleasant sensations and improve our mood .

3. Practice activities you enjoy

Much of psychological well-being and emotional health has to do with enjoying our own lives. Knowing what we like to do and what makes us enter into a state of flow is the first step to enjoying a full life. An important part of social well-being is having a decent job and being well off financially, which influences our emotional health, but not everything in this life should be that.

Do you like to paint or play the guitar in your free time? Do you feel a sense of ecstasy when you dance? Whatever makes you happy, include these activities in your weekly routine for greater emotional health.

4. Fight for your personal growth

There are many studies that claim that having life goals enhances our mental well-being and keeps us motivated. In fact, not knowing what we want in life or where we are going can lead us to a state of existential crisis and depression. Therefore it is important to define what our concerns are and where we would like to be in the future. Whether it is in relation to studies, work or any area of our life.

Because when we connect with our life goals and what we really want, and of course, fight for it, our journey towards personal development becomes something exciting, something that gives us life and allows us to enjoy great emotional health.

Related article: “Personal Development: 5 reasons for self-reflection”

5. Set yourself realistic goals

As you saw in the previous point, having vital goals is key to our well-being. However, unrealistic goals have a negative effect on us, as they cause us frustration and can affect our self-esteem .

When setting goals, it is always necessary to consider what our resources are. Likewise, objectives must be challenging, but also achievable. You can learn 10 tips to achieve your goals by clicking on this link.

6. Enhance positive relationships

Several studies claim that positive interpersonal relationships have a positive influence on our emotional health . Not only that! They also influence our general health, including our physical health.

One of these studies is the one carried out by the scientist Yang together with his collaborators, who, after analysing the health of people with healthy interpersonal relationships and those who were isolated, found that the former enjoyed greater general health: good blood pressure, lower body mass index, etc. The research was published in Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .

7. Live the present and practice acceptance

Scientific studies also claim that people who practice Mindfulness, that is, who develop a state of mind in which they focus their attention on the here and now, with an attitude of compassion and non-judgment, enjoy better emotional health. If you still don’t know what Mindfulness is, psychiatrist Javier García Campayo explains it in the following interview: Javier García Campayo: “Mindfulness has come to stay, because it has enormous scientific evidence”