TIPS AND TRICKS

Want to Be More Mentally Tough? Name Your Feelings
It’s sometimes hard to put a name to your feelings. It might even be tough to admit to yourself when you’re nervous or sad. But research shows labeling your emotions takes a lot of the sting out of them. So, if you want to improve your mental toughness, check in with yourself a few times a day and ask yourself how you’re feeling: set alarms on your phone for morning, afternoon, and evening. 

“If you can put a name to the emotion or the mix of emotions, you’ll feel stronger,” says psychotherapist Amy Morin. “It could be as simple as stopping and taking a second to name your feelings to yourself.”

Take notes on your phone or write them out with pen and paper. You can use an emotions word list to help you identify what you’re feeling, too. “It’s important to connect with how you feel, or you won’t know how your feelings affect your decisions,” Morin adds. “When you’re angry or embarrassed, you may take big risks you don’t need to.”

From cold showers to working out without headphones, here are a few simple exercises for strengthening mental toughness.