Let’s be honest – emotional health isn’t exactly the first thing we schedule. We pencil in meetings, gym sessions, grocery runs, and, sure, maybe even that dentist appointment we’ve rescheduled three times. But emotional check-ins? Those don’t usually make the list. They live somewhere in the background, waiting for a breakdown, a random cry in the car, or that weird empty feeling after a “productive” day.
It’s strange, right? Because everything we do – how we show up at work, how we respond to stress, how patient we are with our kids or partners – starts with our emotional state. But emotional health is subtle. It doesn’t demand attention like a deadline or a ping from Slack. It whispers.
Still, maybe it’s time we start listening.
Why Do We Ignore Emotional Health?
The ”get it done” disease
We live in a culture that high-fives hustle and romanticizes burnout. If your calendar isn’t packed, are you even trying? A 2023 report from Gallup found that 44% of employees worldwide say they experience stress daily, the highest it’s been in over a decade. And that’s not just corporate types or entrepreneurs. It’s everyone trying to ”keep up.”
Productivity is tangible. You can tick it off. Email sent. Task complete. Deck shared. Emotional health, on the other hand? Well, that’s murky. You don’t really ”finish” it, and there’s no KPI for feeling emotionally balanced on a Tuesday.
So, we push through—power past the anxiety. Tell ourselves we’ll rest on the weekend… and then fill the weekend with errands and social catch-ups that feel more like obligations than joy.
It’s Not Flashy, So it Gets Skipped
Emotional health doesn’t post well. You’re not going to see someone humble-bragging, ”Took 20 minutes to sit with my feelings this morning #InnerWork #SoftWins.”
We don’t talk about it because it feels messy, even indulgent. But that silence? It adds up. Over time, unprocessed emotions become clutter. Not the visible kind, but the kind that makes it hard to focus, connect, or even breathe properly.
Putting Emotional Health on the To-Do List
You don’t need to disappear into a forest retreat or journal in cursive on linen paper to prioritize your emotional health. Unless that’s your thing, then, by all means.
Think of it like brushing your teeth. You don’t skip that because you’re too busy. It’s basic maintenance. Emotional health should be the same – bite-sized, intentional, and non-negotiable.
Let’s bring it into the foreground. Treat it like something worthy of your calendar app. Set reminders if you need to. “5-minute check-in with self.” Sounds cheesy? Maybe. But it works.
But Where Do You Start?
If therapy feels too heavy right now or you’re not the journaling type, that’s okay. Start with low-effort, high-value stuff. Take a walk without your phone. Breathe deeper than usual for 30 seconds. Heck, just name how you’re feeling. You know what else helps? Listening. Not to your own spiraling thoughts, but to others who’ve been there. There are some brilliant podcasts about mental health that translate heavy topics into relatable, often funny, conversations. You’ll hear therapists talking like real people, guests sharing messy truths, and moments that hit so hard you pause the episode just to sit with it.
What Goes on an Emotional Health To-Do List?
Okay, so we’ve talked about why emotional health deserves a spot on your to-do list. But what does that actually look like? What do you write down – “feel things” and hope for the best?
Not quite. Think of it less like a list of chores and more like a series of gentle cues – reminders that help you pause, check in, and recalibrate. Reminders to:
1. Check in With Yourself Daily
Once or twice a day, ask: How am I, really? Not just physically or mentally, but emotionally.
Not sure how to answer that? Try:
- What’s been on my mind most today?
- What emotion keeps popping up?
- What have I been avoiding?
Write it down. Say it out loud. Whisper it to your dog. Just let it out.
2. Make Space to Feel your Feelings
This one’s hard. When something uncomfortable shows up – stress, sadness, boredom – our instinct is to scroll, snack, or solve it. What if you didn’t?
Instead of running from the feeling, sit with it. Not forever. Just for a minute. You’re not weak for feeling it. You’re human. And ironically, the more you let yourself feel, the faster it passes.
3. Set Boundaries
If you’re someone who always says yes, because you don’t want to let people down, or worse, make things awkward, this is your permission slip to stop.
You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t need to justify time off. And no, you’re not being difficult by setting limits. You’re just respecting your energy like it’s not infinite…because it isn’t.
Start by identifying your non-negotiables:
- No meetings during lunch.
- One ”no plans” evening per week.
- A rule that you don’t answer work messages after 7 p.m.
Stick to them. The world won’t end. And your nervous system will thank you.
But What If I’m Terrible at This?
When you start making space for emotional health, you might feel… guilty. Lazy. Like you’re wasting time. That’s conditioning talking. Shake it off.
We’ve been trained to believe rest is something you earn, that emotional needs are soft, that you should only slow down when something’s broken. But the truth is, taking care of your emotional health makes you more capable, and not less.
Consistency Beats Intensity
Don’t go all in on day one and burn out by Thursday. Start small. Add one emotional-health task to your week. Then another. Stack it onto something you already do, like stretching while you brush your teeth or doing a 2-minute breathing exercise before opening your inbox. The goal isn’t perfection: it’s presence.
Give Yourself Permission to Feel First, Then Function
We plan our days around output…around what needs to get done. But here’s the thing: you can’t do well if you don’t feel well. You’re not a robot. (And if you are… impressive emotional range, honestly.) You’re allowed to center your emotions. You’re allowed to pause.
To say ”not today.” To cry on a Tuesday afternoon and still be someone who gets stuff done. So, put emotional health on your to-do list. Literally. Not as a luxury. Not as a reward. As the foundation. Because when you tend to what’s happening inside, everything outside starts to feel just a little more manageable. Even the emails. Even the dentist appointment. And even your whole lifestyle.
Read Next: The Vital Role of Mental Health Support for Teens
