In “So…things are not right, part 1“, I described some of the feelings that go along with extremely challenging personal issues, and some suggestions for getting through those days. In this follow-up, I will share some things that actually helped me get past a crater point in my life, and which I hope will help me get to the other side in one piece.
- To help you remember that the situation you are in is temporary, you must find things to pay attention to that are not just about the problem you are in! Find something to do or some person or people to hang out with, that lets you take your mind off the problem area, even if its just for a little while each day.
- Get quiet–First thing in the morning, try to take 5 or 15 minutes to meditate or get your head together before you face the day. You can think of everything you are grateful for, or you can find some guided mediations on YouTube for free and listen on your phone with headphones before you get out of bed. Play with it a bit and find something that works well for you, to be a possible morning routine.
- Focus on your goal or outcome. Make sure your actions and words align with that outcome, and think of ways you can make sure you do not get stressed out and do something dumb when you are a bit tired.
- Check in with your friends and family to see how they are doing and chat about their lives. This is important to stay engaged in the lives of people you care about, and it helps you to get out of your own head for a bit. If you work with people who are in remote locations, use your corporate chat program to check in with them to see how they are doing. Build those relationships!
- Treat yourself well. Get some excercise, even if its walking for a few minutes, shooting some hoops, or pulling weeds. Move a bit and feel your body a bit. Eat food that is appealing and nourishing, but eat less of it, unless you happen to be underweight. If you can have an excellent physically intimate connection with someone special, I would recommend that too…Its the best mood lifting activity in the universe!
- Find some uplifting things to read and listen too. If you are on a budget YouTube has a lot of motivational speeches to pick from and could do the trick!
I hope some of these tips are helpful, as they helped me avoid the negativity death-spiral that sometimes we are prone to when things start to get rough.