How to Stay Positive and Content in Difficult Times

To label a crisis is to deny the benefits which it associates.

Our default is to resist challenges when they arise. Every challenge has the potential to surface new opportunities and experiences, like that of the caterpillar who must cocoon in order to blossom. By allowing old conventions to fall apart, then we may find new experiences that otherwise we may never have uncovered.

Growth is not finite, at no stage has our ability to grow become limited, we have just allowed ourselves to get comfortable. Staying positive throughout these times will reveal opportunities to us in place of challenges.

It seems like all anyone is talking about lately is social distancing. Which I’m sure many of us are sick of hearing about by now. But the reality is the circumstances we are in now are crucial, in order for us all to get back to our conventional lives as soon as possible. It can be so easy for us to fall into the trap of feeling down during these times, however we have to remember social distancing does not mean emotional distancing.

Be creative, find alternative ways to stay connected with friends and family. Be kind to yourself, why not try meditating? Remind yourself several times a day what you have to feel grateful for. Make sure to keep moving around too. These are all ways you can ground yourself in these uncertain times.

DESIGN YOUR PERFECT SPACE

Your home is now your one stop shop for everything. Like when we were kids we may have to use our imagination a little. Nonetheless your home has the possibility of now becoming your office or a gym. On the weekends why not make it your favourite restaurant, or even a pub.

Think of the positives, like how you may be gaining an hour in your day from the dreaded work commute, or even the petrol you’re saving as a result. It’s easy to think of the disadvantages like the number of added distractions. Instead of dwelling, think about how you can make this work for you. Build your perfect space so you can limit your disruptions and be the most productive you that you can be during this time.

If you’re new to the work-from-home life, ensuring a good set up is a great place to start. For me, a large window with plenty of light, a comfortable chair and if you’re staring into a screen much more than usual I find I’ll need my glasses on standby at all times.

KEEP A HEALTHY ROUTINE

Exercising and getting out in the fresh air are both important for your overall well-being. It can be tough considering the confinements of the 2KM radius of our homes right now. But, if you can, try to at least work a little lap around your local area into your routine, or even try a new online home workout.

STAY CONNECTED

Most importantly, we can’t afford to lose sight of the fact that we really are all in this together. Talking with people you care about will help you cope this stress. While we may not be able to hug, touch or even see many of our loved ones right now, it isn’t preventing us from reaching out altogether.

If you can’t see your family in person, pick up the phone, you can always video call to see their faces. Remember not to disconnect from the world just because you are physically isolated.

INFORMATION IS KEY

Stay up to date with the current situation and try to understand what you can do to keep your loved ones (and yourself) safe. Although, while it is necessary to stay informed, you must also look after yourself in how much of this information you are consuming. Set some boundaries, the last thing you want is to become overwhelmed, especially with so much fake news around. The WHO suggest that we check for information at specific times during the day, always from a reliable source.

TAKE A BREAK

When your home becomes your office, routine can tend to go out the window. Don’t forget to take breaks. The difficulty with bringing work home is it can be hard to switch it off and relax.

Plan out your day and try to stick to it. If your working hours are 9-5 for example try to log of at 5 or not long after. Schedule some time in your day for things you enjoy doing whether that’s reading or listening to some music or even meditating. Do what makes you happy and you know will relax you more.

THINK POSITIVE

No one can be positive all the time or even needs to be for that matter. When you’re feeling down and in need of a boost, consider searching some inspirational quotes. There’s many great books that can help by just flipping through the pages of the book. One of my favourites is the book of positivity. It’s a fun way to help reset your frame of mind and cultivate more positive thoughts.

ESTABLISH CONTROL

When things feel uncertain, and right now everything seems to be this way. We must act on the things we can control. Find something reliable in your life right now and work on that. If nothing comes to mind, inaugurate control into your own life and those around you (you don’t need to be in contact physically to do this either) Getting involved or engaging on a local level (through your community or peer to peer) can boost your mood and make an impact. Many small business in your local area may need support and help right now. Check in, see what you can do to help, even if it’s just lending an ear. Call or text your neighbours, offer some advice or simply just check in and show you care.