How do I maintain emotional health?

• Practice more forgiveness and acceptance.
• Worry less.
• Feel -- and show -- more gratitude.
• Take a step back to think before you act.
• Cultivate a rich, meaningful social network.
• Help others by volunteering, mentoring and offering emotional support.

Maintain your emotional health by reducing stress. You should seek to become more aware of your emotions, the environmental factors that cause them, and your ability to influence them. Take an emotional or mental health assessment and see what areas you might want to improve. Focus on improving your overall health as well. Be sure to eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep. Your interactions with others can greatly affect your emotions, so surround yourself with a strong support network. Learn to say "no" when you need to. Finally, do not be afraid to reach out during stressful times to friends, family, physicians, and community services.