Let’s not sugarcoat anything, there’s a lot of negativity going on in the world right now. The coronavirus pandemic, recent stock market crash and fears of an economic decline/recession are on everyone’s minds. It can be hard to be positive in a time like this, but let’s not despair.
After all, the inspirational Maya Angelou, a true survivor of life’s darkest moments, once said: “Every storm runs out of rain.” And at a time like this, it’s important to have faith, persevere and try to look on the positive side. Not sure where to start? Here’s what works for me…
Take a mental break
Sometimes disconnecting from breaking news and social media updates is the best thing you can do for your mental health.
The media feeds off negativity because that’s how they make their money — the more people that watch the news channel, and click on their articles, the more money they make off advertising. The scary headlines are designed to incite an emotional response and trigger you.
That’s why I’m taking a break from it, and you should too. Or at the very least, set limits to how many times you check your social media feeds per day, and reduce your news consumption.
Slow down your lifestyle
Slowing down means just that — slowing your roll in a fast-paced, chaotic world. Cancel any non-urgent plans and appointments and relax at home. Give yourself a break and reduce your social obligations for a little while, at least until things return back to normal. Take some time for yourself and focus on self-care.
Focus on the positives
The world might seem like a dumpster fire at the moment, but there is still so much good in this world. Focus on the positives in every situation — remind yourself that you have great friends and family that love and care for you, and that this is not the end of the world.
Give thanks and practice gratitude
Give thanks to what you have and stay grateful for each day. I like to write the things that I am thankful for every day in my gratitude journal to remind myself just how many things I have to be grateful for.
Quiet your mind
During times of stress, taking the time to breathe deeply and meditate is so important. This allows you to centre yourself and find your inner strength, so that you can remain calm and rational despite the craziness of what might be going on around you.
Reach out to others
Chances are the people around you are also anxious and worried, so check-in with your loved ones each day to see how they are doing. Looking out for one another is one of the best things you can do to strengthen your bond and not feel so alone in this situation.
Quit being a victim
Don’t ever feel like life is picking on you and that you are helpless. Be a fighter and don’t fall victim to life’s circumstances. Life might throw obstacles in your way but it’s up to you to deal with it the best way you can. You are not a victim because you always have a choice — and that choice is how you respond to situations.
Get enough sleep
Sleeping is the best thing you can do to strengthen your physical, mental and emotional well-being. During sleep, our bodies and brains restore themselves and heal themselves. People that get enough sleep are more adaptable to stress and have better immune systems. Get as much sleep as you can so that you can be strong physically and mentally.
Treat yourself gently
Cut yourself some slack! I think it’s so important to treat yourself gently during a dark time because sometimes our own worst enemy is ourselves. Don’t give in to the negative self-talk and focus on self-care as much as you can.
Practice your affirmations
I wrote about why affirmations are so important in a previous blog post, but it’s worth repeating: your mind is a powerful machine, and what you think, you become. Spending a few minutes each day reciting affirmations helps to program your mind to think positively and abundantly, and in turn, attract more wonderful situations, people and circumstances into your life.
