Increasing determination is needed to take control of our life: being competent to face life's challenges and enjoying meaningful connections and relationships with others are essential human needs. Now more than ever, these needs are being challenged and this can affect our well-being.
Here are six tips to help you increase your resolve and take care of your mind, whatever life throws at you. Being at peace with your mind and the thoughts that fill it helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy life more.
1. Create a routine for work and family
These weeks have seen us work from home. Working from home can bring a whole new set of challenges, and the need to provide structure to your days is even more critical. Plan your days to restore a sense of purpose and normality to your life. Schedule activities such as cooking and laundry, as well as activities you enjoy and that help you keep up with your routine. Structuring your activities around mealtimes and bedtime can help you stick to your schedule, while ensuring that you eat regularly and get enough sleep.
On the path to increasing your resolve, this is the first step.
The latter two are among the fundamental habits.
2. Don't interrupt what you do (zero multitasking)
You may be thinking of saving time and gaining more by jumping from one activity to another. Going from one activity to another while multitasking is meaningless. Here we talk about how to increase productivity. If you get caught up in the frenzy of our reptilian brain (ergo the monkey on my shoulder), you ruin your concentration and quickly consume your energy. A smarter way to work is to focus on one task at a time with regular scheduled breaks.
It is vital to remember this when tackling any task and to allow your rational mind to work at an optimal level - one job at a time. Multitasking is one of the biggest lies we've been convinced to be more productive with. I had talked about it extensively in the article "The lie about Multitasking" and in an episode of the podcast.
3. Be in charge of your workload
One of the tricks you can do is schedule uninterrupted blocks of time so that you can think, plan, or work on important tasks. Try using methods like the Pomodoro Technique which focuses attention on a job for an extended period, like 25 minutes, followed by a short 5 minute break to clear your mind by doing something else.
In your short break, you can stretch, take a short walk, have a healthy snack or drink a glass of water. As long as we're not tempted to check emails or social media. Complete a tomato by repeating 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes of rest, up to 4 times, then take a longer break before starting another activity. The key to success with this technique is to let others know when you are focused so that you are not interrupted.
4. Keep in touch with others
We are all dealing with the new realities regarding social distancing, and we are still getting used to the world to come. However, this can lead to a sense of isolation which can generate loneliness and fear. Fortunately, there are ways to maintain great social connections and stay connected with neighbors, family, friends and colleagues. Get into the habit of having conversations with friends and loved ones every day, whether on the phone or via a video call. Being in contact with the people we love is important as it makes us feel good and makes the people around us feel good.
Same thing with colleagues: talk to them often in order to share the best results of the week and maybe plan the next work week. Interacting with others regularly is good for our well-being and has a positive impact on our mental health as well.
5. Create time to reflect
Take a few moments to pause and acknowledge what went well and what you achieved to get inspiration for the next day. This is a loop that should be sanctified, as it creates that inertia that puts us on the path of our awareness.
If you have any concerns, focus on what you can control and what you can do about it. Think about who you can turn to, who understands you on the fly and has always supported you.
Take time each day to reflect.
Some questions that help you on this journey:
How am I feeling today?
What do I have a mind?
What worries me?
Write down your thoughts for the next reflection.
If you have a hard time getting things done, and make procrastination your friend, make an effort to find activities to do that will lift your mood and fill you with energy. Keep in mind which times of the day you have the most energy, creativity, focus and productivity.
6. Let your emotions flow
Several times on Change Your Habits, I've talked to you about gratitude: thanking someone who brings value into your life, or doing something nice for a stranger, fills your life with happiness.
Take the time to notice the things you see. Count three good things you have in your life and take a moment to savor them. The key is to look outside as well as inside. In addition to making others happier, this increases your positive feelings. These practices can help generate positive emotions that increase our ability to cope with the moment and allow us to recover from difficult times.
Thanks to Simone, for this answer that inspired me.
