10 Tips To Being There For Yourself & Others
Sometimes we give for granted that others must be there for us when we are going through a moment of uncertainty and vulnerability. However, often, the key is in being there for yourself when you need it the most. Sometimes putting ourselves back together after having gone through a tough moment can be challenging. However, some routine tips can help you discover the strength you did not know you had. And it has never been as crucial as in the midst of a global pandemic!
Look After Your Family and Friends
Looking after your partner and little ones and keeping your family unit strong is essential to make it through together as a team. When something happens, we all tend to isolate and even blame others for our own malaise. However, often, we can find the strength we were looking for within ourselves and realize that the ones around us are only trying to show us their support.
If you are struggling to cope with the uncertainty of this period, avoid isolating yourself. Rather, opt for getting in touch with the others around you and make the most out of this precious family time.
Taking Time for Yourself
While enjoying the presence of your family and friends, it is also important to ensure you have enough time for yourself. This should be part of a healthy routine that can help you look after yourself in the best way.
During this time, you don’t necessarily need to catch up with the jobs you are late for. Instead, go back to a hobby that you had given up or pick up a book and spend time with your favourite characters.
In any case, if managed well, you will have enough remaining time to look after the tasks, errands, and duties that are your responsibility. The only difference is that you can dedicate yourself to these jobs with a clear mind and the feeling that you have enjoyed enough time for yourself!
Introduce a Mindful Practice in Your Routine
Meditation is a practice that is so accessible that can be performed everywhere, at any time. You won’t need props or special training – just enough time to regain control over your breath and your life. With time, you will find out that concentrating becomes easier and the effects of just a few minutes of meditation will carry on throughout the day.
If you are not fully convinced about the efficacy of this practice, check out the many studies about the power of mindfulness. You will soon find out that introducing meditation in your routine can help you manage stressful situations and achieve an inner serenity and peace of mind you had not experienced before. Give it a try!
Find Time to Exercise – Daily!
Some people are more gym people than others. While there is nothing wrong in this and you definitely don’t need to change your personality to find peace of mind, you should consider whether exercise could be helpful in your case.
According to a Mayo Clinic article about the benefits of regular exercise, introducing a few minutes of training every day can help you reduce stress and enjoy better health. While this solution is not likely to show results overnight, you are likely to enjoy a better night’s sleep from day one!
The best thing is that you won’t necessarily have to lift weights to conform to this lifestyle. Rather, you can pick the activity that better suits your preferences and routine. Whether you prefer to run, jog, row, cycle, or even swim, taking time to look after your body and physical health is the first step to achieve a stronger, more resilient self.
Don’t Forget to Keep Building Relationships, Even if Virtually.
Many aspects of our lives have been changed by the pandemic. Perhaps, our personal relationships and friendships have been among the most affected ones. Indeed, we always tend to rely on seeing and touching others to build mindful connections.
The moment when lockdowns and social distancing measures hit many relationships were affected too – and definitely not in a positive way. However, we are social animals, and we need to communicate and create relationships with others to be happy and fulfilled.
So, you should not let the pandemic stop you from speaking to your closest friends and family members. Keep building mindful relationships through virtual channels and means. You will feel better just after having had a coffee and catch up with your best friend!
Eat a Lot of Fresh Food
Our diet can have a great impact on our mental wellbeing. While we don’t always realize how crucial the link between nutrition and mental health is, you can start understanding this impact just within a few days of switching to a healthier, more nutritious diet.
Eating fresh, seasonal ingredients that have not been subjected to extreme processing can help you feel stronger, happier, and healthier. In turn, you will have much more energy to enjoy all of your favourite things in life. All this, while helping you manage your weight!
Learn Something New
Learning and studying is something that we always tend to link to old times at schools or university. However, often, learning something new and interesting or mastering a new skill can help you boost your confidence.
If you have picked a new thing to learn out of passion or curiosity, you can now show off your new abilities. Oppositely, if you have picked a skill that can help you progress along your career path, you can also see the financial benefits of this choice!
Since you don’t necessarily have to feel the pressure of passing a test or exam, learning a new skill becomes fun. And today, with an endless range of resources available online, you can also find in-depth courses and training opportunities that are affordable, accessible, and based on self-paced learning.
Don’t Be Afraid of Launching a New Project.
If you have always wanted to launch a new project or business idea, this is the right time to do it. It is impossible to foresee the twist and turns that the financial markets and national industries will take.
However, if you have a little passion project to launch, now you have all the time and energy you need to start working on it. And, if you need a little external help, you can count on a flourishing online community that can help you deal with any problem or task from a remote position. So, you can pick your talent from an international pool and count on efficient and professional service – all this with no transmission risk for you or your family.
Let Someone Else Take Care of Practicalities
When you are in a moment of need, it is common to feel overwhelmed by the many things you are expected to include in your to-do list. In the case of an illness, accident, or death, the emotional charge can also be something you will struggle to deal with.
While you might not be able just to drop all of your emotions onto someone else, you can hire the services of a relevant professional such an injury lawyer to look after the practicalities of the matter. At least, you know that your team is enlarging and you have other highly-trained professionals fighting by your side – and for your rights!
Ask for Help if You Need To!
Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes, the circumstances of a tough situation are so overwhelming that we struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel. While some people find enough strength to carry on, others might be tempted to give in.
However, if you have been dealing with an accident or the death of a loved one, sometimes, finding the courage to ask for help can be the best solution. You can start by confiding in the people around you. However, if you need a little extra support, seeking the help of a professional can make a difference in the situation’s outcome!