Staying optimistic can be very difficult when times are tough right now during the COVID-19 pandemic. You may have just lost your job, your home, or even worse, a loved one. Are you worried about your health? Do you feel helpless or defeated? There is so much news being pushed on us each and every day and that can make it hard for us to see the silver lining in any of it. Whatever you are facing, optimism seems as if it is something that is not possible to keep during this time in our world.
Even when the present moment feels as if everything is completely falling apart, being hopeful about the future is what being optimistic is all about. Optimism doesn’t mean that we should hide our negative emotions and just sweep them under the rug. It means that we need to be more attentive to both our negative and positive emotions in order to be able to move beyond the stress and uncomfortableness of the times. It can be a tool of sorts to deal with the uncertainty and anxiety we are all feeling.
Practice Self-Compassion
Stop being so hard on yourself! Our worth is unconditional. We cannot control everything that happens in our lives or in our world. In stressful times, it is important to be kind to ourselves not only for our physical health but our mental health as well. This can help with lessening our anxiety, stress, and depression.
Remember that we are all going through these trying times of the Coronavirus together. Nobody is facing this alone. Self-compassion is about being kind to ourselves while realizing that all of us are just doing our best to navigate through these crazy times together.
Practicing mindfulness is part of having self-compassion. Mindfulness is allowing yourself to be aware of your emotions, thoughts, and feelings and accepting them for what they are in that very present moment. It does not involve dwelling about the past or spending time imagining the future. Make every minute count. If you are spending time with your children, really get engaged and listen. If you are outside taking a walk, really try to enjoy all of the sights and smells in the air. Sometimes it is hard to slow down and take note of all the little things we take for granted each day.
Seek Pleasure in The Small Things
Lean in! During this time of social distancing and quarantine, it may seem as though there are fewer and fewer options on how we spend our days. Really take the time to enjoy the everyday activities that were just part of our daily routines we went on mindlessly about prior to now. The otherwise ordinary activities like making your morning coffee, walking the dog, or helping your child with their homework can be a welcome distraction from the flow of bad news.
Do you ever look back at pictures of moments in the past and smile, laugh, or get a sense of “feeling” that very moment again? Well, let’s take the time to really appreciate each moment now as we try to stay optimistic. We may look back and wish we would have enjoyed these moments just a little bit more.
Give Back Within Your Community
You can support your local businesses and help keep them optimistic during the Coronavirus by buying gift cards from them for future meals when times get better and we can share meals together. You can also help by ordering takeout meals from them in the meantime.
You can also send money to a cause or non-profit you believe in. Giving can make you feel good, which in turn helps the organization and gives a boost to your mental and physical health. We are all trying to make the world a better place and by giving, we are bringing about positive change.
Giving back within your community can also be as simple as practicing random acts of kindness that don’t have to be monetary. Send an email to a family member or friend to just show some appreciation. Leave thoughtful comments on a friend’s social media account. Put a note in your mailbox for your mailman to discover thanking him or her for delivering important mail and being out and about during the Coronavirus. Everyone benefits from acts of kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness.
Check-in with your neighbors while keeping a safe distance can help make them feel special and make you feel good at the same time. Remember, we are in this pandemic together and when we show that we care for other’s wellbeing, we are reminded that there are other people that may be more stressed than ourselves.
Exercise, Eat, and Sleep Well
This one is very obvious, of course, but these basic habits all have a huge effect if they are not correctly managed. Now that we are all basically confined to our homes, we may be snacking more, staying up later to watch one more episode of our current favorite mini-series, or putting off getting in a good workout since the gyms are still closed. Not sticking to a good diet, not getting a good night’s rest, and not exercising can really impact one’s thoughts and tensions on the inside.
Get moving, take a walk, breathe some fresh air, and be mindful of what you are putting in your body. Turn the television off at a specific time each night and stick to a plan. You will thank yourself later when you aren’t trying to lose that weight you may have put on not taking care of yourself and your mind.
Take Inventory at the End of Each Day
At the end of each day, acknowledge something positive that you accomplished or are grateful for. When we think about things that made us smile, laugh, or be productive throughout the day, it helps squash the pessimism or negativity we absorbed surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. This behavior can help remind us that not everything that’s happening right now is depressing or unmanageable. Staying optimistic can be challenging, but we can all help each other in small ways that can make a big difference.
And just as equally important, we at Personally Delivered are here if you need us and just a phone call away! Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay connected.
