7 things in life you probably don’t realize take a toll on you emotionally

Living life can sometimes feel like walking on a treadmill. You’re constantly moving, constantly pushing, but it seems like you’re stuck in the same place. And that’s just the stuff you’re aware of.

You’re battling through the big, noticeable struggles, sure, but there are these insidious little things that you probably don’t even realize are taking a toll on your emotions.

It’s not always the big heartbreaks that wear you down. Sometimes, it’s the little things: the daily grind, the missed opportunities, the forgotten dreams. They seep into your psyche without you even noticing and begin to erode your emotional wellbeing.

In this process, you might not even realize that these seemingly insignificant factors are impacting your happiness and overall emotional health.

In this article, I’m going to talk about seven of those sneaky culprits. These are the things that seem inconsequential at first glance but can slowly chip away at your emotional armor and take a toll on you emotionally.

1) Neglecting self-care

We all lead busy lives, and it’s all too easy to put ourselves last on the to-do list. You may think you’re just being practical, saving the world before you save yourself.

But here’s the thing: continually neglecting self-care is not only physically draining but emotionally taxing as well.

The late nights you spend working or worrying, the meals you skip because you’re too busy, the exercise routine that’s completely gone out the window – these are not just physical health hazards.

They slowly build up an emotional deficit that can manifest as stress, anxiety, or even depression. And you might not even realize it’s happening until you’re in deep.

The key takeaway here is that taking care of yourself physically is intrinsically linked to your emotional wellbeing. So, don’t shrug off that skipped meal or missed workout; they matter more than you think.

2) Ignoring your feelings

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to push emotions aside. You might think, “I just don’t have time to deal with this right now,” or “I’ll get over it.”

But brushing off your feelings is like trying to hold a beach ball underwater – it takes a lot of effort and the moment you let go, it’ll come shooting back up.

Take this one time, for example. I had this huge presentation at work and I was feeling incredibly stressed and anxious about it. But instead of acknowledging those feelings, I just pushed them aside and told myself I didn’t have time to worry.

The presentation went well but afterward, I felt emotionally exhausted. I realized that by not addressing my feelings upfront, I had allowed them to fester and grow into something much bigger than they initially were.

Ignoring your feelings doesn’t make them go away; it just makes them grow stronger in the background. And that can take a heavy toll on your emotional health over time.

Not only that, but it also affects your physical health eventually. Research shows that emotional stress, like that from blocked emotions, can lead to physical problems like heart disease, intestinal problems, headaches, insomnia and autoimmune disorders.

3) Being too hard on yourself

In our quest for excellence, we often forget to be kind to ourselves. We set incredibly high standards and beat ourselves up when we fail to meet them.

I remember when I first started my job; I was so eager to prove myself that I worked non-stop, nitpicking every little detail of my work. I was constantly striving for perfection, and it was emotionally draining.

What I didn’t realize then was that being too hard on myself wasn’t helping me reach excellence; it was only adding unnecessary pressure and taking a toll on my emotional health.

Of course, it’s important to strive for excellence. But not at the cost of your wellbeing. Remember, being kind to yourself is just as important as being kind to others.

4) Not setting boundaries

Did you know that setting boundaries is actually a form of self-care? It’s true.

By defining what is acceptable behavior and what isn’t, you’re not only protecting your physical and mental space but also your emotional health.

I’ve found this to be particularly true in my own life. In the past, I had a tendency to let people walk all over me because I didn’t want to seem rude or unkind. But over time, I realized that this was causing me a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Now, I make it a point to set clear boundaries with the people in my life. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary for my emotional wellbeing.

So if you’re constantly feeling drained or taken advantage of, maybe it’s time to take a hard look at the boundaries in your life – or lack thereof.

5) Holding onto the past

Life is constantly moving forward, yet sometimes we find ourselves stuck in the past. We replay old conversations, relive old memories, or harbor old grudges.

Without realizing it, I’ve done this countless times myself. I’ve held onto past mistakes, allowing them to cloud my present and future.

It’s like driving a car but constantly looking in the rear-view mirror – it’s not only impractical but downright dangerous.

Holding onto the past is like carrying a heavy backpack wherever you go. It weighs you down and prevents you from moving forward freely. It’s not always easy to let go, but doing so can significantly lighten your emotional load.

6) Overcommitting yourself

We live in a culture that values busyness over almost everything else. The busier you are, the more productive and successful you must be, or so we’re made to believe.

I’ve fallen into this trap myself. I would say yes to everything, from extra work assignments to social engagements, thinking that the busier I was, the better I was doing in life.

What I didn’t realize was that by overcommitting, I was stretching myself too thin and leaving no time for relaxation or self-care. This constant state of busyness was nothing but a fast track to burnout.

Overcommitting yourself can lead to high levels of stress and little time for emotional recovery. Learning to say no and prioritizing your commitments is crucial for maintaining your emotional health.

7) Lack of genuine connections

We are social creatures by nature. We need meaningful connections with others to thrive, not just survive. But in our digital age, it’s easy to mistake a flurry of likes and comments for genuine connections.

I’ve been there myself. With a busy schedule, it was easier to just keep up with friends and family through social media. But over time, I found myself feeling more and more disconnected and lonely.

What I didn’t realize was that the lack of real face-to-face interactions was taking a toll on my emotional health.

Having genuine connections with others is not about the quantity but the quality. It’s about having deep conversations, sharing experiences, and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs.

Without these genuine connections, we risk feeling isolated and disconnected, which can have a significant impact on our emotional wellbeing.

Final thoughts

Life can be a rollercoaster of emotions, and it’s easy to overlook the less obvious things that can wear us down. But the first step to maintaining emotional health is awareness.

If you’ve found yourself nodding along to these points, perhaps it’s time for a little self-evaluation.

Start by recognizing these sneaky emotional drains in your life. Consider this your friendly reminder to check in with yourself. How are you really doing? Are there areas of your life that could be silently sapping your emotional energy?

Take the time to nurture your emotional wellbeing, because you’re worth it. And if you need help along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out. There are numerous resources available that offer support and advice.

So here’s to taking care of our emotional health, one small step at a time.