The road ahead is an uncertain one.
These are unprecedented times.
What does the ‘new normal’ look like for you? Or, your business?
We’ve all read the quotes, news stories, and posts on social media. And we’ve all been in conversations about the ‘new normal’, as states across the US prepare to peel back regulations and gradually reopen.
I do agree our lives will look and feel different in the months ahead. Each of us has learned something new about ourselves, experienced our community and workplaces in new ways, and have spent time adjusting to changes in our daily lives with each passing week.
What is resilience?
Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, or toughness.
This pandemic has been difficult to say the least. Watching the news and hoping that our friends and family will continue to be healthy, we cannot pretend we’re comfortable with the uncertain road ahead.
Feeling vulnerable is not pleasant; however, it can help us feel safe. By admitting you feel vulnerable, you are allowing this awareness to reorient your state of mind and set a course forward that is not based on selective perception and fear, but on fact. Fact starves fear. The fact is we will recover from this.
To help prepare you for the next few weeks, here are a few of my tested and proven strategies to develop a resilient mindset and successfully face a challenging time:
7 Tips for Practicing Resiliency in Your Everyday Life
Tip #1: Set goals.
Setting goals is a practice I strongly recommend to all of my clients, colleagues, and loved ones. The ritual adjusts your mindset as you plan for a day, week, or month ahead of time and helps you focus your energy to accomplish them and be more productive. Writing these goals down and checking them off also feels really good.
Tip #2: Practice gratitude daily.
Spend time each day focusing on gratitude. Over the past few months, we’ve been restricted in where we can go and who we can see. It’s important to focus your mind on the abundance you have rather than what losses you’ve endured.
This is a very simple activity that rewards you with a sunnier disposition, sense of accomplishment each day, and boosts your productivity. (It’s also one of my favorite rituals.) Commit to just three minutes a day to write down what you are grateful for and find a place to post them where you can see them regularly. I write post-it notes and stick them by the mirror in my bedroom.
Tip #3: Help the people around you
Being a resource for your friends, family, and business associates can help you feel accomplished. Helping others is just like a good bowl of chicken soup for the soul, and it really doesn’t take too much effort.
Here are a few ways I help others:
- Share articles I find inspiring through social media and email.
- Answer questions when people are looking for help or recommendations on a product or service on social media or in conversations.
- When people reach out to you for a ‘quick chat’, resist the urge to ignore it if you have the time.
Tip #4: Remember to help and care for yourself, too
Self-care is also something that takes effort and time, especially during a crisis. And when you have little to spare in both tanks, something needs to give. One easy way to practice self-care is to remind yourself to take things slowly and be more forgiving of yourself. Take five minutes to drink a cup of coffee on the porch before you start to work from home or take a walk around the block.
Tip #5: Show people you care
When we were all working, eating, and celebrating together, it was easier to show people you care about them with gifts or a pat on the back. As things begin to gradually reopen, think about ways you can give gifts and support virtually. Send a gift card or a surprise Amazon Prime package to a friend. Or, stay connected with texts or video chats.
Tip #6: Catch up on your correspondence
Another way to show you care is by sending personal notes. Reach out personally to your personal and business contacts. Write letters and notes. The action of writing and mailing a personal note is a lovely surprise to the recipient, but it also gives the sender a nice sense of accomplishment. If you’re at a loss for words or where to start, this post from Real Simple gives step-by-step examples for all kinds of notes.
Tip #7: Bonus tip for business leaders and owners
For business leaders ask yourself how you add value to your co-workers, employees, and your customers. Perhaps new values are coming to light, and you can help fill those gaps. Take time to talk about them with your employees and customers. You may need to shift some priorities or how you do your work.
Our world as we once knew it is gone. And when that world was ripped from our hands, collectively we’ve had to learn how-to cope with loss and deep vulnerability without unlimited personal contact to our loved ones while keeping the country, our businesses, and our lives going.
Being Resilient: Final Thoughts
- Resiliency is something you learn and practice regularly to master, much like training for a marathon or learning a new recipe. Some days will go better than others, and it’s OK to reach out for help.
- Shifting your thoughts toward the positive will help you with productivity and helping others in your life at the same time.
- You can exercise any of these tips to develop resilience in both your personal and business life.
