by Jenny Gaal, Fitness Director
How exploring and nurturing emotional health can increase your happiness, joy, and fulfillment with the following 9 practices:
- Spend Time in Nature
Spending time in nature can help you disconnect from your usual routine and receive a boost of energy, clarity, and gratitude. Nature is a happiness prescription and could provide you with a much-needed perspective shift.
- Keep a Gratitude Journal
Taking the time each day to reflect on the things that you are grateful for can help you maintain a positive outlook on life. When you choose to focus on positive things, such as family, health, having a roof over your head, and a beautiful day, you can come closer to a state of pure joy.
- Meditate
Time spent in stillness and silence can unplug you from the hustle and bustle of your busy life and invite you inward for a mind-body reset. Spend at least 15 minutes in centered-deep thought every day and notice how it can help you to gain a new perspective, shift your mood, and even provide you with more energy.
- Surround Yourself with Positive People
The people you surround yourself with can have an effect on you, either positive or negative. Surrounding yourself with positive people can greatly enhance your ability to maintain cheerfulness.
- Try a New Hobby
What activities make you come alive? Having a passionate activity can unplug you from responsibilities and connect you to inner happiness. Maybe you enjoy writing, knitting, horseback riding, golfing, gardening, or creating art. Find something that you enjoy doing so much that lose yourself when engaged in it.
- Exercise
Exercise is one of the fastest and most effective ways to positively shift your emotional state! Low energy can contribute to depression. The endorphins that are released during exercise increase your energy levels, boost your mood, and reduce symptoms of stress. Find some form of physical activity that you enjoy doing regularly to maintain your emotional health.
- Review Your Day Each Night
Recapitulation is a process of reviewing your day just prior to going to sleep each night. The purpose of this exercise is to become keenly aware of how you’re living your life and to observe your own behavior patterns.
- De-clutter Your Environment
Having a clutter-free, organized environment can lead to clarity of mind and relaxation. Take time each day to put things back in their place when you’re done using them, file paperwork in a desk, tidy up living spaces, and put away clothes.
- Practice Forgiveness
One of the biggest sources of emotional toxicity is holding onto grievances toward self and others. No one is perfect. Forgiveness is not about approving a particular behavior; instead, it is about cultivating peace.
Your potential is limitless with a strong emotional foundation.
Best in health and fitness,
Jenny Gaal
