As we celebrate this year’s valentine day, Work and love are two major domains of our lives from which most people get satisfaction and find meaning, at the same time these can act as life-threatening stressor to our mental well-being. According to research if we do not care for ourselves frustration, tension, anger, and poor health can develop, even when you know how important it is to take good care of your emotions it can still be a tall order. It can be tough to find time for yourself as some people may feel guilty about loving or pampering or spoiling themselves from time to time while some may just ignore their feelings and stressors and hope they just go away. However, they usually do not just go away and at some point unaddressed emotional problems often result in serious consequences, from illness to relationship problems to harmful behavior hereby affecting our mental well-being.

Meanwhile, emotions are our feelings, literally we feel them in our bodies as tingles, hot spots and muscular tension. There are also cognitive aspects, but the physical sensation is what makes them really different. Motivation are ‘e-motions that act to motivate us because without emotions we would probably not do very much and hence would not survive, at least in the evolved form we are in now. When your mind is frazzled and stressed and your emotions are taking over your thoughts and affecting your everyday activities at work, it’s time to take a step back, take a deep breath, and relax. Of course focusing on your physical health is crucial, but so is treating your mental health which also involves your mind and spirit to the same attention because your happiness goes a long way in protecting your overall well-being. Focusing on your emotional health isn’t hard, but it may be an adjustment for you. Some simple and really enjoyable changes are all it takes to boost happiness and mental well-being.

Some simple and really enjoyable changes are all it takes to boost happiness and mental well-being.

Follow these few tips to strengthen your emotional and mental health.

EXERCISE

It protects physical and emotional health, relieves stress, and makes you feel good about yourself as welll.

MAKE TIME FOR LAZINESS

You don’t have to be constantly on the go, that’s how you get run down. Spend a little time each day or each week doing something you enjoy that is completely frivolous. For example, watch TV or a silly movie, chat on the phone, play a game, or just listen to music. Spend some time in the sun with sunscreen of course, sunlight is a great natural way to boost your mood.

TREAT YOUR SENSES

Do little things that make you happy and stimulate your senses, like lighting a scented candle, buying some fresh-cut flowers, indulging in a massage, or treating yourself to your favorite food or drink after a stressful day at work. Learn how to properly deal with stress, anger, and anxiety instead of keeping them bottled up inside.

BE HEALTHY INSIDE

This means avoiding junk food and sticking to a healthy diet. You should also steer clear of smoking, drug use, and too much alcohol. Everyone gets cranky without enough sleep, so dedicate adequate sleep time every night or treat yourself to a nap every now and then.

ADOPT AN ANIMAL

Pets offer fun, relaxation, and a whole lot of love. They can encourage you to exercise, and tear your attention away from stressful activities at work.

The bottom line is pretty simple, take time for happiness. Allow yourself to enjoy life, fun, and relaxation. Be thankful for what you have and enjoy it!