Observing Emotional Wellness Month offers an opportunity to care for your mental health while also caring for the environment.
Emotional Wellness Month is observed each October to encourage people to assess their stress levels, practice self-care and build emotional resilience.
“Emotional wellness really impacts our day-to-day,” said Morgan Davis, director of Student WellBeing at Augusta University. “It really can impact how we show up to the different hats that we wear. I think what often gets missed is the intersection that these different hats can have that impact our emotional wellness. Our job can be stressful, for example, and that could impact our emotional wellness.”
Davis said
people may try to compartmentalize stress and keep it from affecting areas outside of work, such as their home life or even their overall sense of purpose.
“There's a lot of intersection between different areas of well-being that can impact how we feel overall as just trying to be happy, whole humans,” she said.
Signs to lookout for
According to Davis, emotional distress can appear in both physical and emotional ways.
"The good thing is our bodies are really smart," she said. "Often, physical symptoms can signal that our emotional well-being is struggling."
Common warning signs may include:
- Frequent headaches
- Difficulty sleeping
- Changes in appetite
- Digestive issues
- Increased irritability
- Cynicism or negativity
- Feeling detached from friends, family or coworkers
- Losing connection to personal values
- Feeling as though you're simply going through the motions
"Those are usually some of the emotional symptoms that can appear when we may be struggling in that area," Davis said.
Tips for managing stress
- Unplug from digital devices
- Reduce screen time
- Take regular breaks throughout the day
- Stay present in the moment
- Identify and acknowledge emotions as they arise
- Practice meditation or journaling
- Prioritize quality sleep
- Maintain balanced nutrition
- Engage in light daily exercise
- Stay connected with trusted friends, family members and coworkers
- Seek support through employee assistance programs, counseling or therapy when stress becomes overwhelming
Eco-friendly activities that support well-being
Many activities that benefit emotional wellness also help reduce environmental impacts. According to organizations such as the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization, examples include:
- Taking a mindful walk in a park or green space
- Practicing forest bathing or nature journaling
- Volunteering for a community cleanup
- Starting or joining a community garden
- Hosting a zero-waste wellness picnic
- Biking or walking to a favorite local destination
- Creating a pollinator-friendly outdoor space
- Replacing screen time with outdoor recreation
- Donating or swapping gently used items
- Joining an outdoor wellness group
Reducing waste helps protect ecosystems, lower greenhouse gas emissions and conserve natural resources, according to experts at the University of Colorado.
Davis encourages people to make time for small moments of self-care throughout the day.
"I think it's important to take small moments during your day to connect with your well-being in whatever way works best for you," she said. "Those small moments can have meaningful benefits, and I think that's often overlooked."
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.
Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@usatodayco.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Feeling overwhelmed? These eco-friendly tips can help reduce stress
