Emotional Hygiene: The daily practice that keeps you clear, clean and calm

In today’s world, where there’s always something demanding our attention, it’s easy to forget one simple truth - our emotions need care, just like our body does. I call this emotional hygiene.

Think of it as your daily emotional shower. Just as you wouldn’t go days without brushing your teeth (I hope!) emotional hygiene is about staying clear, calm, and in your best “blue state” most of the time, especially when life throws extra challenges our way.

Because here’s the thing, emotions are not a problem to be solved. They’re part of being gloriously human. Fear, joy, anger, grief, guilt… as our Head of Coaching Annie Stoker says, “we’ve got 365 emotions on the hard drive.” Some feel wonderful. Others… not so much. But the real trouble comes not from feeling emotions, but from avoiding them.

When we suppress or ignore what we feel, emotions get stuck. They can leave us overwhelmed, reactive, or completely depleted. But when we practice good emotional hygiene, we learn how to let emotions flow through us, so we can return to balance and lead from our most grounded, powerful selves.

The principles of emotional hygiene

Over the years, I’ve found a few simple but transformative ways to keep my emotional world “clean”:

1. Feel it and let it out

When an emotion arises, anger, fear, sadness - let yourself feel it. Cry. Rage. Shake. Breathe into it. Express it safely. Suppressing feelings only makes them stronger.

If it’s not the right moment (because screaming in the supermarket probably won’t help…), you can use a simple technique we teach called “shelving nasties”: temporarily park the emotion, but promise yourself you’ll come back and feel it later.

2. Shake it off and dance it out

Science shows that emotions live in the body, not just the mind. Trauma researchers even recommend shaking - literally! When I’m stressed, I step outside and shake from head to toe until I feel the release.

And then there’s dancing. At One of many, we have playlists for every mood. Angry songs, sad songs, joyous songs. Put one on, move your body, and feel it all. (Yes, Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off is basically emotional hygiene therapy!)

Pro tip - finish with a song that makes you feel grounded or uplifted.

3. Scream into a towel

This one’s not glamorous, but oh, it works! When anger boils over, grab a towel, bury your face in it, and scream from your belly. It’s powerful, primal, and safe (even if the kids are asleep upstairs).

4. Build daily rituals

When life gets especially intense - moving house, illness in the family, or work unrest, I lean on daily rituals to stay emotionally clear. For example:

• Shower cleansing: I imagine the water is warm crystal light washing away the day before.

• Gratitude handwashing: Each time I wash my hands, I name five things I’m grateful for (even my kids join in!).

• Nature breaks: Meal breaks are my cue to step outside, or at least gaze at something green.

• Nightly shake-out: Before bed, I shake out the day. Sometimes for just a minute, sometimes with a full embodiment practice.

These rituals don’t take extra time. They’re simply about bringing presence to the moments you already have.

Why it matters

When you commit to emotional hygiene, even just for seven days, you’ll feel clearer, calmer, and more capable. You’ll find it easier to make decisions, show up for the people you love, and lead with compassion instead of reactivity.

If you’re curious to explore these tools (and so many more) in a supportive community of women who are living this work every day, I’d love to invite you to join us in Living the Change.

Together, we practice emotional hygiene, embodied leadership, and the kind of self-care that helps you thrive….no matter what life throws your way.

As part of Living the Change, our Head Coach Annie Stoker leads a powerful dynamic meditation each month. It’s a chance to shake it out, dance it out, and clear those emotional cobwebs so you can come back to a calm, grounded, deeply resourced state.