"If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place." - Eckhart Tolle
Full disclosure: I used to be an emotional mess. I had anxiety out the roof, I'd stress about the little things and constantly dwell in either the past or the future -
neither of which I could change! I would blame my situation on my experiences, the things happening around me, and worst of all, myself. I used to believe I had no control over feeling bad and would instead accept the fact that I was unhappy.
This all changed when I realized my happiness started within myself, not my circumstances.
The changes came from not only from understanding this concept, but from loving myself, and most importantly, taking care of myself. It was the moment I started practicing yoga, eating nourishing foods and giving myself time to be alone that I realized how direct of a correlation there is between the physical and emotional body. To put it more simply — your physical health directly affects your mental and emotional state.It seems like common sense, right? If you’re healthier physically, then we will feel better emotionally and mentally. Although this seems like a no-brainer, it’s definitely one of those things I think we all forget about, especially when we are feeling down. Which is why in this article I’m going to outline 5 of my best tips and tricks to help you feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Anytime you’re feeling down, I encourage you to fall back to any of these tactics:
1. Feed your body.
Have you ever gone on a crazy diet and suddenly felt like a crazy person? Have you ever eaten really crappy food and felt like crap? Have you ever fed your body nourishing foods and felt healthier, happier, and all around better? This is not a chance happening, people! My point is that what you put into your body directly affects how you feel. When I finally figured out this trick, I instantly became more balanced, less emotional, less stressed, and all around happier. Feed your body foods that nourish, support, and uplift you, in whatever way that means to you. For me, this means eating a good breakfast in the morning because it provides me with energy throughout the day and I’ve noticed it makes me feel happier. It means eating lots of veggies, fruits, and foods that serve my body well. It means remembering to eat! There have been so many accounts where I feel really emotional and distraught, but as soon as I eat I instantly feel better. 80% of the time you’re feeling emotional, you are more than likely just ‘hangry.’ I’m definitely one of those people who easily gets ‘hangry.’ In fact, growing up, my mom used to feed me if I was ever acting upset or emotional, and instantly I’d feel better (and end up apologizing for acting up). Bottom line is feed your body, because it feeds your brain, balances your emotions, and helps you feel good.2. Allow yourself to veg
While I agree that exercise, productivity, and social time all promote well-being, it’s extremely important that we allow ourselves to 'veg.' If you’re a ‘type-A’ personality like me, you’re probably constantly running from one thing to the next. Let me tell you though, especially for our personality types, it’s very important for us to take a moment to sit back and relax (as hard as this might be). When I find time to chill out, it allows me to relax, rejuvenate, and think about what’s important. My favorite thing to do lately is come home from work and crochet while watching cable. (Yes, cable). For some reason, it gives me wonderful sense of nostalgia to sit back and watch USA, TBS or Food Network like the good old days (weird commercials and everything).
3. Yoga.
My life changed when I started practicing yoga, but not in the way you probably think. The initial response I get when I tell people I do yoga is ‘wow, you must be really flexible.’ While flexibility is definitely an added perk to the practice, it’s not the reason I love yoga so much. Yoga creates a moment in your life where you are focused on what you are feeling in your body. When you focus on what you’re feeling in your body, you let go of what you are feeling in your mind. Yoga is definitely more of a meditative practice for me than a physical one, and it’s changed my life in so many ways since I began my practice. It’s hard to explain because from the outside looking in you can’t understand it, and from the inside looking out you can’t explain it. I definitely recommend giving yoga a try though, because it will create a sense of peace, space, and awareness in your life.4. Sleep.
Again, another one of those things that should be a ‘no-brainer,' but it’s something we often overlook. If you’re feeling drained, overwhelmed, or emotional, a factoring cause could definitely be lack of sleep. Many side effects of little sleep are short temper, lack of concentration, fatigue and a foggy brain. Many of you might say ‘well, I don’t have time to sleep.' Although you might be busy, just remember that you could potentially be twice as productive if you got just a few more hours of sleep each night. Make it happen.5. Gratitude
Last but not least, gratitude is the key to abundance, happiness, and an instant shift in your mindset. With a little bit of gratitude, a situation can instantly shift from being ‘why is this happening to me?’ to ‘this is happening for me.' A hardship becomes a lesson, a closed door becomes another open one, and heartbreak becomes compassion. Grateful people even report feeling healthier & happier, according to a study published in "Personality & Individual Differences." It even improves self-esteem!
