POSITIVE DOING

1 Have a plan

The restrictions imposed on us mean that as families and households we’ve had to dramatically rethink the way we go about our lives. Our normal schedules have been thrown out of the window, leaving many of us feeling lost. But having a clear plan gives everyone something positive to focus on.

A plan is much more than a to-do list; it needs a clear, positive outcome. Even if it’s just getting the groceries, going for a walk, or checking on a neighbour, by making it part of a plan, you will do it with more purpose.

2 Be consistent

Routine gives us predictability, and predictability gives us consistency. And if there’s anything that we could all benefit from right now, it’s more predictability and consistency — so let’s generate it ourselves from the inside out.

In simple terms, try to do things at the same time each day — getting up, going to feed the horses, mucking out. Timing is important for generating routine as our brains unconsciously pick up on repeated patterns of behaviour. This makes the same behaviour easier over time. Get it right and your day will be punctuated with greater energy, greater quality and greater focus.

3 Learn to prioritise

It’s easy to fall into the trap of doing too many things at once, but if you focus on what’s most important to you, you’ll find yourself doing everything with more energy, more connection, more meaning and more productivity. Take the opportunity to ask yourself — if I only did half the things I do, but I did them all twice as well, what would they be and what might I notice?