CALM YOUR WORRIES IN THIS UNCERTAIN TIME
The pandemic has upended our way of life, and it’s making us feel anxious and worried. Emma describes how to manage change to ensure you feel more positive and optimistic
If there is one thing that makes us anxious, it is uncertainty. I hear so many people berating themselves for struggling right now, but remember, life as you know it has shifted beyond recognition in the last few months, so it’s totally normal to feel off balance.
FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN MANAGE
Things like the economy or the education system are outside your control so, instead, look at what you can influence, as that will put you in the driving seat. If work feels uncertain, spend time improving your CV, do a free online course to upskill, talk to contacts, search job forums, and sign up with recruitment agencies to start looking for a new challenge. If you’re worried about money, download a budgeting app to help you make sense of your spending. Sometimes, just taking a small step back and looking at your finances from a distance can make you feel on top of things. If your kids are at home, try to reframe this positively as a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend time with them, without the ties of school routines and strict timetables of activities. Plan ways to enjoy it, ensuring this will be a summer where you make memories that will last a lifetime.
USE TIME WISELY
Reflect on examples of past struggles and make notes on how you overcame them. Perhaps you managed the hard transition to being a new mum by asking for support from other mums in your family, or you got over a difficult break-up by taking up running. Draw from the effective strategies you used before and let it remind you that even the most challenging periods do end.
NOURISH YOUR BODY
I constantly harp on about it, but exercise and eating well are key too. You’ve experienced a really testing time and you need to feel in the best of health to manage it. Eating well, getting some regular exercise and practicing good sleep habits are all important steps in reducing stress and anxiety levels – so create some menus, clear a time slot for a daily workout, and schedule in early nights so that you have the energy to deal with this unexpected time. You can do this!