Shocking Ways Your Emotional Intelligence Could Be Impacting Your Health

Emotional intelligence, often abbreviated as EQ, is the skill of understanding and managing your emotions, along with the ability to recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. Boosting your EQ can significantly increase your chances of success. A strong EQ makes you more adept at making decisions and confidently leading others.

EQ isn’t just about professional advancement; it also plays a crucial role in your overall well-being, including physical and mental health. Let’s explore how.

5 Areas in Which EQ Can Impact Your Health

Higher emotional intelligence positively impacts your health, specifically as it relates to these five areas.

1. Stress

Learning to pinpoint what triggers your stress and choosing not to react negatively can reduce stress levels. Stress is a root cause of numerous mental and physical health problems, including hypertension and heart disease, so mastering this aspect of emotional intelligence can have a significant positive impact on your health.

2. Mental Health Problems

Likewise, if you’re able to keep negative emotions in check, you’re less likely to let them spiral into more serious issues like anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges.

Those already diagnosed with clinical anxiety or depression can also benefit from higher emotional intelligence. It equips them to objectively assess their emotions and apply appropriate coping techniques to handle their condition better.

3. Decision Making

Emotions often play a significant role in shaping decisions. In business, this can sometimes result in impulsive risks, and similarly, it can lead to less-than-ideal choices in personal life. Mastering emotional self-regulation allows you to pause, consider the facts, and make decisions that aren’t clouded by your feelings, thereby avoiding regrettable personal choices.

Take stress management as an example. If your default response to stress is to overeat or turn to alcohol, gaining control over your stress and the accompanying negative emotions can lead to healthier decision-making concerning these areas.

4. Relationships

The more adept you are at managing your emotions and understanding your partner’s emotions, the stronger and healthier your relationship will be.

The connection between healthy relationships and your physical and mental well-being may not seem obvious, but studies have found that robust, supportive relationships can lead to reduced stress levels, a lower likelihood of developing chronic diseases, and even an increase in longevity.

One notable study highlighted that a lack of strong relationships increases the risk of premature death from all causes by 50%, which Harvard Health equates to the health risks of smoking 15 cigarettes a day!

5. Physical Health

Higher emotional intelligence is frequently associated with better physical health, as it leads to habits that are conducive to well-being.

As previously discussed, managing your emotions and stress effectively can help you avoid harmful behaviors during stressful times, like excessive indulgence in unhealthy habits. Similarly, adopting practices that foster sound emotional regulation aligns with healthy lifestyle choices. For instance, regular exercise and adequate sleep benefit emotional stability and physical health.

How to Improve Your EQ (and Therefore Your Health)

So, how do you actually see these benefits and improve your EQ? Here are a few simple ways to start.

Self-reflection

A big part of emotional intelligence is learning to sit with yourself and understand what’s happening inside. Rather than moving through the day at lightning speed, learn how to stop and reflect on your emotions and reactions.

If you’re having trouble with this, consider journaling and recounting your feelings throughout the day. Doing so can help you not only identify your most common emotions and reactions but also identify triggers and patterns that you can avoid in the future.

Mindfulness and Meditation

The more you become aware of the present, the more you can manage your emotions and, therefore, regulate them rather than blindly reacting. Developing a meditation routine can help and is easier than you think. Try a simple, five-minute meditation at your desk in the morning or at night before bed. Consistent practice will show substantial results.

Seek Feedback

Occasionally, we can’t see our issues, and that’s where having a trusted colleague, friend, or family member can come in, as they provide valuable feedback. Ask those closest to you how you handle emotions and interpersonal situations. Strive to regulate your feelings instead of reacting adversely, no matter how challenging the critique may be to accept. Embracing constructive criticism is instrumental in pinpointing areas where you can enhance your personal growth.

Build Strong Relationships

If you don’t have strong relationships in your life, invest time in building them. Try to connect with those around you and understand their emotions and needs and your part in helping fill them.

Set Goals for Improvement

As you engage in self-reflection, seek feedback, and identify areas where you need to improve, strive toward that improvement. Set achievable goals to work toward, whether you need to learn how to manage conflict, understand non-verbal cues, or any other emotional intelligence skill.

Educate Yourself

Seek out emotional intelligence-related resources. There are tons, from books to seminars, filled with expert strategies and insights that can help you along your journey.

Work With a Coach

Collaborating with a health coach or executive coach can illuminate areas where your emotional intelligence may need bolstering and provide effective tactics to surmount these challenges. A coach is instrumental in assisting you in setting goals, staying accountable, and cultivating EQ facets such as conflict resolution and relationship management.

The Bottom Line

Enhancing your emotional intelligence goes beyond professional success; it profoundly benefits your health and overall well-being.

Keen on boosting your emotional intelligence? Stay tuned for our upcoming event on emotional intelligence. Eager to improve your EQ and health sooner? Book an introductory call with an Arootah coach today.