Being emotionally well, experts say, encourages one to slow down, and it fosters the practice of mindfulness. For this reason, emotional wellness becomes critical to our well-being and health in general.

According to the National Center for Emotional Wellness, the term refers to an awareness, understanding, and acceptance of your emotions, and your ability to manage effectively through challenges and change.

When you’re tuned into your feelings, then you can more easily become aware of your bodily sensations.

Mental health is one of today’s major health challenges, as approximately one in five individuals reportedly suffer from a mental health episode each year.

Sylvester Twizerimana, a psychologist based in Rubavu District, says being emotionally well doesn’t necessarily mean that one is happy all the time, rather, they are self-aware and able to shift as a way to feel better.

He says that when one is emotionally well, it leads to a happier and more blissful life, and also allows such individuals the opportunity to attain their full potential in life.

Twizerimana goes on to explain that for the most part, being human means having challenges and problems; however, it’s all about how one chooses to deal or cope with those issues that determine their emotional wellness.

"In general, maintaining a sense of well-being in our everyday lives can relate to both the positive and negative activities in our daily routines. Positive well-being leads to happiness, whereas negative well-being tends to lead to depression and mental challenges,” he adds.

Importance

Emmanuella Uwamahoro, a Kigali-based mentor and counsellor for youth, points out that it’s essential to put into consideration that emotional health is an important part of overall health, adding that anyone who is emotionally healthy is in control of his/her own thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.

Such people, she says, are able to cope with life’s challenges. They can keep problems in perspective and bounce back from setbacks.

"Having good emotional health is a fundamental aspect of fostering resilience, self-awareness, and overall contentment. All this comes down to having the skills and resources to manage day-day life challenges,” she says.

Uwamahoro notes that when one starts working on their emotional health, it is just as important as taking care of their physical well-being.

Things to note

When one takes care of their emotional wellness, studies show that such people become resilient to stress. Also, when one is emotionally distressed, it makes one more vulnerable to physical illness by impacting your immune system.

Besides, it also fosters deeper relationships, meaning that when one is equipped with the skills to manage their emotions, it’s easier for them to connect with others and show more empathy and compassion.

It has also been established that emotional wellness leads to higher self-esteem of a person. For instance, your thoughts, feelings, and experiences influence the way you feel about yourself.

In a nutshell, it’s believed that good emotional health helps one see the best in themselves despite the challenges.

How to improve your emotional health

Experts believe that emotional health is more of a process than a goal. And chances are you’re already doing some things that help strengthen your emotional health.

Dr Andrew E. Ivang from the Department of Clinical Biology – Huye campus, University of Rwanda, says improving your emotional health starts with practicing emotional regulation.

Emotions, he says, can sometimes get the best of you, but learning to cope can help you respond instead of reacting to upsetting situations.

He says that there is also a need for one to get involved in doing some physical activities, noting that when one is overwhelmed with stress at work or at home, taking the time for physical activity can nourish both your emotional and physical health.

Besides, studies have proven that strengthening social connections also boosts your emotional health.

For instance, it has been established that your link to others can have powerful effects on your emotional and physical health.

Staying connected with loved ones can provide a buffer when you’re going through challenges. Foster these connections by spending time with close friends and family, either in person or over the phone.

Moving forward, a growing body of research also links mindfulness with less emotional reactivity and greater relationship satisfaction.

Mindfulness can be as simple as focusing on one thing at a time, trying a social media detox, or turning household tasks into a mental break. The point is to be consistent with your mindfulness practice and dedicate even just a few minutes to something you enjoy.

Ivang says getting quality and enough sleep should also be considered, adding that sacrificing sleep makes you more vulnerable to stress and anxiety.

He says this has been backed up by studies that state that being sleep-deprived leads to more repetitive negative thoughts.

Also, being overly tired can make you more emotionally reactive. That emotional reactivity can negatively affect your outlook, performance, and relationships.