There are two schools of thought dominating my social media feeds this month. The first group are the people almost a bit too excited for the start of 2021, as if leaving 2020 behind will be the end of all the bad stuff.
I’m sorry to burst anyone’s bubble – particularly for those of us that have just been 'upgraded' to Tier 4, but the pandemic isn’t over yet and we still have lots more changes to come.
With that in mind, the other school of thought are people who know that it's not over and are wishing for it to be 2022!
That reminds me of being a young teenager and moaning that I wasn't 18 and able to get into certain places or wear clothes that were too old for me. My Mum would always say "Don't wish your life away." Of course, I didn't appreciate being told that but now I couldn't agree more.
Today I want to do my bit to bring those two schools of thought to meet in the middle, and to inject a little positivity and gratitude into the mix.
While we are not out of the woods yet, I don’t want you to wish this year or the New Year away. There are still positives, and we can still learn and grow from what recent events have put us through.
Here are a few ideas to help you play the hand you have been dealt and keep moving forward with a positive mindset.
Use unemployed time wisely
If you find yourself without work for a period of time, then I know there is a big temptation to spend all your new found ‘free’ time on social media and job sites, hitting refresh on your inbox, and generally making yourself anxious.
Suddenly having a lot of time on your hands when you were used to the structure of a job can be mental Kryptonite. So I recommend you get a strategy to make the most of your time.
Time blocking your days to give you back some structure will allow you to job hunt and be productive in a way that feels better for you.
Block out time for applying to jobs and working on your LinkedIn presence. Then block out other time for productive tasks away from your screen, such as clearing out the loft and your cupboards.
I know that doesn't sound hugely exciting but a good clear out also feels great for your mental wellbeing, and you might find a few things to sell on eBay, helping you with the cost of Christmas.
The thought of getting started is worse than actually doing it, I promise you. Once you get started it's really satisfying.
Also, don’t spend your evenings refreshing your social media feed.This doesn’t help anyone’s mental wellbeing. If you can’t relax with just the TV alone (and I know that many people can’t) then choose something else to do, maybe get in touch with people that you haven't seen or spoken to in a while.
That's partly to have a good chat and partly to let them know your situation - you never know who might be able to help.
Remember when you craved rest?
We all know the irony of being exhausted all year, craving a holiday, then when you finally go on one you are unable to switch off and rest.
Now is the biggest opportunity I’ve seen in my whole lifetime for a rest. We’ve never been encouraged to stay at home and do less before this year.
If you’ve been keeping busy up until now, maybe it’s time to try something new over Christmas and the New Year.
Visit last week's post for tips on enjoying some time alone.
Save for a later adventure, start planning now
Most people will feel that it’s a bit soon to book any travel, and I tend to agree with this. But that doesn’t stop us from making plans and even starting a savings account for it.
Even if the possibility seems really far off, there is no reason not to dream and plan.
You could start a vision board or a Google Document, or anything that helps you to flesh out an idea. And researching travel destinations is a better use of screen time than just refreshing your social media feeds.
Remember the power of intention
Finally, I want to remind you that much of how you feel is within your control. Of course, we can’t stop what’s happening ‘out there’, but we can put ourselves in a better frame of mind to deal with it all.
In other words, don’t say it's ‘all bad’ then be surprised if you feel bad.
It is really important to find those positives to focus on, even if they are small.
If you want a quick mental reset to get you on track, then I am now taking bookings for 2021 - you might only need a couple of sessions to get your mind into a place where you feel less overwhelmed and can get a bit more clarity. If you need me get in touch, let’s have a chat and see if I can help.