This Year is Yours! By Matt Eschler
I thought that we could put 2020 to rest and wake up in a brand new world where travel could happen, mask free shopping could be a new reality, and the news would be cheerful to watch. So far, it has not turned out quite like I had hoped. Many of you are feeling the same way. The fear of COVID-19, the constraints of enduring restrictions, and the uncertainty of the economy are discouraging at best and depressing at worst. I am going to give you five solid, fail-proof tips on how you can manage your mental health as you navigate through today’s unfamiliar landscape. While your favorite of these tips may need to be repeated numerous times, collectively, they will help you thrive amidst the chaos that is swirling around you. Tip One: Connect with loved ones. If we could remember that sadness and anxiety thrive in isolation, it would drive us to find ways to connect with others. There are so many ways to connect in 2021. We may be asked not to congregate in large groups, but we are able to connect virtually on a screen. Find an avenue to reach out to others that you have not been with for a while. Catch up and re-connect. Plan a screen-free conversation with those who live with you under the same roof. How long has it been since you shared a face-to-face conversation with no interruptions, no
screens, and no phones? I have spoken to some teenage kids who claim they never talk with their parents without interruption. Make a point in 2021 to have a set amount of uninterrupted, face-to-face time with those you care about. Tip Two: Commit to never procrastinate. Stop yourself from putting things off. Make it a goal to always plan a start time for projects, tasks, and important things you need to do. Honor your start time plan. Make sure you are not overbooked with responsibilities, and plan to keep your word with yourself regarding start times for your to-do list. This plan for not procrastinating will help with your foundation of resilience and sense of security. Instead of having the nagging feeling of stress about what you’re putting off for later, you will feel a sense of security and accomplishment. Tip Three: Let go of regrets. Regrets that we hold onto will begin to weigh us down. In fact, carrying regrets can become so global that we begin to say things like “I never do anything right,” or “I can’t look forward to anything good.” We can develop global negative beliefs about ourselves like “I don’t really have any strengths.” Letting go of regret as we move forward is a necessary tool to keep in our mental health tool bucket. A pathway to letting go of regret utilizes three powerful steps:
Doing something that falls outside your normal routine, something that is uncomfortable but good for you, will open up those pathways of progress.
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