How to Improve Your Self Awareness & Emotional Intelligence

How to Improve Your Self Awareness & Emotional Intelligence

Self Awareness & Emotional Intelligence

Self-awareness and emotional intelligence are two coping strategies that nurses often use in stressful work situations. Research shows that nurses who have a "positive emotion-focused" strategy — where they reflect on problems and stressors — might deal with burnout better than nurses who don't. 

Self awareness and emotional intelligence go hand and hand. Self awareness is the foundation of personal growth & success, and is a key factor to being emotionally intelligent.  


1. Keep an emotions diary 

2. Set an awareness trigger 

3. Reflect on behaviors 

4. Develop your feelings vocabulary 

5. Know who and what pushes your buttons 

6. Ask yourself why you do the things you do

7. Don't treat your feelings as good or bad 

8. Observe the ripple effects of your emotions 

9. Accept your discomfort 

10. Feel your emotions physically 

11. Check how you look 

12. Spot your emotions in the arts 

Bonus: Seek feedback - ask those you trust for feedback on how you react to situations for a varied perspective 



Other Resources on Health and Wellness: 

  1. What is Wellness? And What Makes You Well? 
  2. First Stop Health's Virtual Counseling Benefit
  3. Understanding Mental Health and Wellness: Resources and Further Help
  4. Meditation and Breathing
  5. Fight Stress with Mindfulness - UMR Care


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