Back in Lockdown for the New Year: Tips for Staying Hopeful
At times like this, it’s really hard to be hopeful. It feels like a lot of time has passed and we’re back at square one. However, at times like these, we need to hold onto hope. This all sounds a bit easier-said-than-done because manifesting hope out of thin air might feel a bit futile. So here’s a few tips and reminders to make finding hope a bit easier.
Consider how different things are:
When we were in lockdown in the beginning stages, Coronavirus was a phantom disease that we knew very little about. Now we know a lot more about it, and we know what measures we can take to protect ourselves. Doctors have tried-and-tested methods of treatment. And not only that, we have multiple vaccines that are available to it. It might feel like square one, but it really isn’t. There is a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
Surround yourself with optimism:
With most of us in lockdown, there’s very little news, and most news is meaningless conjecture which fuels our worries. We don’t need to be consuming this pessimism and negativity every day. Read positive books, watch TV shows which uplift you, unfollow social media accounts which drag you down and leave you riddled with anxiety. Replace all the negativity with optimism and hope will develop a lot more naturally.
Spend time living in the moment:
In a world of uncertainty, the present moment is one guarantee we have. Embrace this mindful way of living and focus on the here and now. Enjoy savoring the last few sweets in the Quality street tin, feel every drop of water that trickles over you in the shower, marvel at the beautiful frosty mornings. This will help you focus on the good stuff.
Focus on what you can control:
Your mindset, how you fuel your body, who you spend time with, how you spend your time. These are all things you can control, and you have the autonomy to make decisions to do things which nature and support you. Diverting your energy to the areas of your life that are within your control makes it so much easier to handle the ups and downs of the world, because with every new dose of chaos and frustration comes the gentle realization that its beyond out control and it is ok.
Set time aside to worry:
Set aside 12 or 20 minutes every day to pour all your fears and concerns onto paper. Firstly, this will stop them cluttering up your head and free yourself from having them constantly swirling around your head and weighing you down. And secondly, it allows you to view them with distance and a renewed perspective. You might even be able to come up with actions to solve them and they might not seem as big as they did when they were bouncing around in your mind.
Practice self-care:
If you’re not feeling particularly hopeful and the thought of forcing optimism feels exhausting, it might be because you’re lacking the resources in general. Actively taking steps to cultivate a positive, more hopeful mindset takes all sorts of mental and emotional energy, so if you’re lacking, you won’t have the fuel in your tank to keep you going. Temporarily forget about being hopeful and focus on what you need, what you can do for yourself, what needs of yours need to be met and refresh yourself. This will make being hopeful easier.
Resources cited from livespiffy.