Self-Care and Emotional Wellbeing

On this page

1. What is Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing?
2. What does it feel like?
3. What is self-care?
4. Tips – Create a self-care box
5. Create a ‘Mind Plan‘ from the NHS
6. Resources

What is mental health and emotional wellbeing?.

We hear the words ‘mental health’ and ’emotional wellbeing’ all the time but what do they mean?

Mental health:

We all have mental health because we all have a brain!

Good mental health is a feeling of happiness where we're able to handle the normal stresses of life and can do the things we want to do.

Mental health issues can affect anyone at any age.

Emotional wellbeing:

Emotional wellbeing is how we feel day to day.

Everyone feels low sometimes or experiences stress or anxiety due to exams, family problems, or events and changes in our life.

These changes can effect our thoughts and our emotional state of mind. 

“Something is wrong but I’m not sure what it is!”

It’s important to remember ‘it’s okay not to be okay’.

We all have mental health – it is just as important as our physical health.

Sometimes we can put on a brave face when things actually feel a bit messy and sometimes it’s hard to tell what we are feeling upset about.

Everyone goes through ups and downs and by caring for ourselves we can make bouncing back a bit easier.

The key is to find what works for you, what makes you feel good, what keeps you going – and whatever that is keep doing it!

One of the best ways to understand how we are feeling is to write it down. Do it on your phone or a diary and let it all out! No one else will read it so you can be really honest and this can help you organise your feelings.

What is Self-care?

When was the last time you took care of you? Self-care is looking after yourself so you stay emotionally well.

Get some ideas from the 30 Day What’s Up challenge. 30 things to make you feel good!

What can I do to look after my mental and emotional health?

1. Be mindful – Ask yourself how you are feeling regularly and react to this feeling. For example, I’m tired – Go rest! I’m bored – Do something fun! I’m lonely – connect with someone! I’m worried – Tell someone! I’m sad – Change something! Try mindfulness.
2. Get enough sleep and exercise.
3. Take time to do something you enjoy (even if you have a long list of work/revision to do). Try to find a balance.
4. Talk about it! Or write it down
5. Say No! – if you have too much to do and everyone wants a piece of you.
6. Eat healthy – food is mood!
7. Have fun – call someone or do something you know will bring a smile to your face.
8. Don’t be alone with your thoughts – share them with someone you trust.
9. Create your own wellbeing routine – a go to list of things that you will do when you feel low or just things to remember to do to keep you feeling okay.

Create a self-care box!

It's easy - get an old box (a shoe box is great), decorate it, and fill it with things that make you smile. For example: positive quotes, mantras, hot chocolate sachet, sweets, photos, scents (essential oils or lavender), face mask or nail varnish, a book and pen to write down how you are feeling...get creative!
Open it up when you've had a bad day, to help you feel better.

Your Mind Plan

Your Mind Plan offers practical ideas and advice to help you boost and maintain your emotional wellbeing.

Answer the quick 5-question quiz and the Every Mind Matters widget will give you 5 tailored actions to help you:

• feel more in control,
• improve your sleep,
• deal with stress and anxiety, and
• boost your mood

There is an option to swap any actions and you can save the whole plan via email.

Resources

• Self Care ideas from Anna Freud
• 30 Day What’s Up challenge – 30 things to do to make you feel good
• Five Ways to Wellbeing – Connect, Give, Stay Active, Learn, Notice
• Movement and Mind connection – move more to feel better
• Clubs and Activities – Have fun