20 December 2024

How does your emotional wellness affect your health?

Medically reviewed by Dr Kate Smith BSc, MBChB

Balancing your emotional wellness is essential to a good level of overall health.¹ This guide explores the interplay between emotional balance, physical health, mental wellbeing and social connections. It aims to provide practical advice for achieving emotional balance and enhanced wellbeing.

Emotional balance, sleep and physical health

Our emotional balance may have an impact on our physical health.² Understanding how our emotions affect our bodies can help us manage stress and improve sleep quality.³

Manage stress for a healthy heart & body

Stress management is important for maintaining a healthy heart and body.⁴,⁵ Chronic stress can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as smoking or heavy alcohol use, which in conjunction with stress itself may increase risk of heart disease.⁶ Techniques such as mindfulness meditation and regular physical activity may help manage stress levels leading to a reduction in the chance of unhealthy coping mechanisms which may promote cardiovascular health.⁷⁻⁹ Physical activity has a positive influence on emotional wellbeing so taking time to exercise and look after our bodies is really important.¹⁰

Improving sleep quality and overall energy levels

Emotional wellness can impact sleep quality.¹¹ Feeling stressed or anxious may lead to sleep disturbances such as difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep or waking early in the morning.¹¹ Getting enough sleep can also have a positive impact on our emotional wellbeing.³ Research suggests getting enough sleep, especially REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, may help the brain process emotional information.¹² It’s thought that sleep helps with memory and learning.¹³ During sleep, the brain evaluates and stores thoughts and memories.¹³ Good quality sleep can help decrease the risk of certain chronic diseases and is important for your overall physical health.¹⁴

Emotional wellbeing and cognitive health

Emotional wellbeing and cognitive health are essential components of overall wellness.¹⁵ They cover a wide range of factors that influence our thoughts and behaviours, contributing to a balanced and fulfilling life. Emotional wellbeing can be linked to cognitive health and mood.¹⁶,¹⁷

Promoting cognitive health

Mental wellbeing is linked to cognitive health. Cognitive health is an important part of our overall brain health. Strategies to keep our brain healthy include:¹⁶,¹⁸

mental exercises: engage in activities such as word puzzles, reading and learning new skills to stimulate cognitive functions¹⁹,²⁰
healthy lifestyle choices: not smoking, keeping physically active and drinking alcohol in moderation²¹
healthy diet: consume a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins to support cognitive and overall brain health²²,²³

Enhancing mood

Improving emotional wellbeing is deeply intertwined with enhancing mood. ¹⁷ Mood boosting activities include:

physical activity: regular exercise releases endorphins, which act as natural mood lifters.²⁴
engaging hobbies: participate in activities that bring joy and fulfilment.²⁵
social connections: maintain strong relationships and seek support from friends, family, or mental health professionals for a valuable emotional outlet.²⁵,²⁶

Better outlook on life

We all feel a range of emotions - both positive and negative. However, when we are feeling positive emotions this can benefit our emotional wellbeing.¹⁷,²⁷ To help with this you can try:

practicing gratitude: acknowledge and appreciate the good aspects of life to help shift focus away from negative thoughts.²⁸
setting realistic goals: work towards achievable goals to provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment.²⁹
self-care routines: engage in regular self-care activities such as sleep-optimising habits, healthy eating and relaxation to support overall wellbeing and build resilience too.³⁰,³¹

Social connections and emotional support

The community around us plays a very important role in supporting us and lifting us up. Social connections are a core component of emotional support which links closely to your emotional wellbeing.²⁴ Building strong relationships and networks can enhance resilience, improve life satisfaction and provide essential support during challenging time.¹¹,³²

Building resilience and coping mechanisms

Strong social connections provide emotional support and help build resilience against stress.³³ Having a network of supportive friends and family can offer comfort during challenging times and boost your ability to cope with stress.²⁴,³³ They may also be able to help you with some of the causes of stress. Being able to cope better with stress can in turn help prevent the effects of stress on your mood and body.⁵ Participating in community activities and building strong relationships can strengthen your emotional support system.³⁴

Strengthening relationships with supportive networks

Healthy relationships with supportive networks are thought to be key for emotional wellness.²⁵,³⁵ Positive interactions with friends, family and colleagues may improve mood and overall wellbeing.²⁴,³² Regularly connecting with loved ones and seeking out new social opportunities can enhance your emotional wellbeing.²⁴

Enhancing overall life satisfaction and sense of wellbeing

Emotional wellness contributes to overall life satisfaction and your sense of wellbeing.³⁶ Engaging in activities that bring joy, fulfilment and a sense of purpose can enhance emotional health.²⁴ Finding a balance between work, social life and personal interests can lead to a more satisfying and well-rounded life.

Balancing emotional wellness is vital for overall health and wellbeing.³⁶ By recognising the connection between emotional balance and physical and emotional health and implementing practical strategies, you may be able to boost your wellbeing and live a happier life. To support your journey towards better emotional wellness, download the H&B&Me app today. Our app provides personalised tips, mindfulness practices and community support.

FAQs

How can emotional health and wellbeing affect your total health?

Emotional health and wellbeing influences your overall wellbeing by affecting stress levels and sleep quality.⁵,¹¹ Maintaining good emotional health and wellbeing can help you manage stress better, and promote restful sleep.⁵,¹¹ This can in turn positively affect your physical health.⁴,⁵,¹⁴

How do emotions influence your overall health?

Emotions impact your overall health and wellbeing as they can impact your physical and mental health.³⁶ Finding a way to manage your emotions healthily can promote improved wellbeing.³⁶

How is emotional wellbeing responsible for health?

Positive emotional wellbeing plays a key role in overall health and wellbeing by helping you manage stress and potentially reducing the risk of disease.³⁶ It influences lifestyle choices, such as engaging in physical activity and maintaining social connections, which are important for overall health and wellbeing.³⁶,³⁷

What is emotional wellbeing and its relation to health?

Emotional wellbeing refers to the ability to manage your emotions, maintain positive relationships and cope with life’s challenges.³⁶ Its relation to health and wellbeing is important because balanced emotional wellbeing can promote better physical health, improve sleep quality, and enhance your ability to handle stress.³,³⁶

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