This will drastically change your entire life
Do you ever wish that you could just hit the pause button on life and move on to a new chapter without any negative repercussions?
Unfortunately, time is linear. On the other hand, time is a social construct. In other words, your life’s timeline is yours to manage, and you shouldn’t compare your goals and achievements to those of others.
Taking a long, hard look at your life to get to the root of the change you would like to see will benefit you. Focusing on what you would change in your life might help you answer what you should pursue in the near future.
So, how to start a new life?
The great news is that you don’t have to pull a Madonna and completely reinvent yourself every time you are ready for a change.
How to Change Your Life in Six Months
By implementing these 12 small yet impactful changes outlined below, you can start a new life without being extra about it.
1. Always Learn Something New
Perhaps you have achieved success in your career — only to find you want more.
If you feel stagnant in what you are doing for work or are bored with your day-to-day, expand your options.
One way to make yourself more competitive in various career fields is pursuing further education. Most of us don’t have the bandwidth to invest in attending classes on a college campus.
How To Build Awesome Habits: James Clear | Rich Roll Podcast
Luckily, online universities are nationally recognized and more affordable than traditional in-classroom schooling. Consider signing up for some asynchronous online classes that fit your work schedule so you don’t have to interrupt your life to get ahead.[1]
2. Take Steps to Face Your Fears
It is amazing how many of our decisions are based on fear. We fail to take risks, avoid conversations, and miss opportunities because we are afraid of the outcomes.
Here’s the deal:
Taking risks, within reason, can change your life overnight. If you have had your eye on the cutie at your local coffee shop, take a shot and ask them out for a drink. The worst that can happen to you is a slightly bruised ego. Even if they are already in a relationship or simply uninterested, your flattery may have made their day.
The Surprising Power of Small Habits | James Clear | SNAPS Leadership Conference
Don’t go through life with too many regrets. Going back to that coffee shop after being turned down is just another opportunity to face your fears.
3. Maintain a Meaningful Social Circle
Most of us have heard the timeless adage “you are as good as the company you keep.” Expanding your horizons to include new and interesting people might be the spice in life you were looking for.
Take a holistic view of your friends, family and professional relationships. Make a mental checklist of the relationships that most positively affect you and why. Take that checklist with you the next time to go to a social event. Try to strike up a conversation with new and interesting people that check those boxes.
While you’re out being a social butterfly, don’t forget where this exercise started. Be sure to not leave your old, longtime friends in the dust while fostering new friendships and relationships. You don’t want to be “that guy” in your friend circle.
3 Rules That Will Immediately Change Your Life – Joe Rogan
4. Find Healthy Ways to Cope With Anxiety
If you experience excessive anxiety in your daily life, you are not alone. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. They affect 40 million people over the age of 18 every year, which represents 18.1 percent of the U.S. population. [2]
Finding healthy ways to cope with anxiety has the ability to turn your world upside down. Many people have looked toward CBD to help ease and manage anxiety. It can be used to target anxiety as it arises without the need to take daily medication.[3]
CBD is not commonly prescribed by mental health professionals — at least not yet anyway. Some have compared it to having a glass of red wine after a long day. However, it is important to practice a sense of heightened self-awareness and recognize if you are negatively self-medicating with overconsumption.
Here’s the kicker:
THE MINDSET OF A WINNER | Kobe Bryant Champions Advice
Anything you do to relax can be done in excess: exercise, watching Netflix, drinking, or shopping. Be sure to choose an activity that works to relieve your anxiety in a manner that is healthy and can done in moderation.
5. Become Part of a Movement
You know all the hours you spend scrolling through social media idolizing other people’s lives? Well, they could be better spent.
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As humans, we naturally seek out a connection with others and desire to feel as if we are needed. Finding a cause to get behind can help you to feel as if you are contributing to the common good. Whether it is a social justice issue or an environmental movement, there are many different opportunities to focus your time and energy to help you feel needed.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be protesting every weekend to feel as if you are creating change. Making small changes in your life can make a big impact.
Using your consumer power to only support businesses who have sustainability at the forefront of their business practices is a powerful choice. It is small actions like this that have caused big businesses to reevaluate how they conduct business. Feel empowered by spending your dollars wisely.[4]
6. Take Ownership
It is all too easy to move through life as a passive passenger. The good news is that you don’t have to give up anything in your life to regain control over it.
How to UPGRADE YOUR MINDSET in 46 Minutes | John Assaraf on Impact Theory
Take ownership over your life by taking control of a particular aspect of your life. It could be as simple as no longer being a public transport passenger and instead, using your own body’s physical power to get you to your destination.
Knowing that you can depend on yourself to make your morning commute is incredibly empowering. Free yourself of passivity and become the captain of your own ship.
7. Pay Attention to Your Dreams
If you feel unfulfilled in your life but aren’t sure why, try tapping into the esoteric side of life. Diving into your subconscious can be liberating and freeing if you allow yourself the mental space to do it.
Not everyone remembers their dreams, but you can train your brain by keeping a dream journal next to your bed. Dreams can reveal unconscious hopes and fears that we either ignore or prefer to be unburdened with during our waking lives.
Understanding what your dreams mean is like learning a new language — requiring you to pay attention to clues, signs, and symbols. [5]
How to Have Infinite Energy (Yes, It's Possible) | Todd Herman on Conversations with Tom
If you are the type of person to remember having recurring dreams, pay attention! Your subconscious is sending you a message. However, here’s the catch:
Dreams are irrational and a product of our psyche we can never truly comprehend. Don’t make any rash life decisions because a little blue man in your dream told you so.
8. Unplug to Tap Into Creativity
What are you reading this on right now? Are you on your phone or your laptop? Well, after you’ve finished reading through how to start your new life, unplug it.
Being tuned into technology all the time creates mental fatigue — leaving little energy for creative processes. By spending time in nature the prefrontal cortex of the brain is able to rest. [6]
Find out what inspires you in life and use it to take the new life that you are seeking into new dimensions. Your muse may be found in unlikely places. Be open to saying “yes” more often to allow inspiration into your life.
This Is How You Pull Yourself Out of the Matrix | Thomas Chatterton Williams on Conversations w/ Tom
9. Challenge Comfort Zones
If you are attempting to step away from a life of stagnation, you have to step out of your comfort zone. But don’t strap into that bungee cord harness quite yet. You don’t need to unreasonably take elevated risks that put certain aspects of your life at stake.
Challenging your comfort zones are meant to empower you to see what you are capable of achieving when put to the test. It is understandable to want to relax in the comfort zone after working so hard to get there, but there comes a time when you have to level up.
Set your sights on the next attainable dream and go for it. If you’ve always wanted to run a marathon, set up a strenuous training schedule to get you there. Learn how to push through the pain and the mental blocks that have kept you from being your own champion.
Dig within yourself, figure out where to set your hard ceiling, and push towards reaching your goals to live your best life — you deserve it.
10. Practice Daily Mindfulness
If you want to turn your whole world upside down, integrate a mindfulness practice into your daily routine. Meditation, yoga, journaling, or breath work do not require anything from you besides a commitment to being in the present moment.
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You may be rereading the title of this article because you assume these words are convincing you to become a monk and take a vow of silence. You don’t have to go that hardcore with your mindfulness practice.
Meditation is called a practice because it takes time to become comfortable with sitting still and focusing for a long period of time. However, you will be happy to learn that the effects of meditation are immediate. Just taking five intentional deep breaths at your desk during a stressful day will help to lower your blood pressure and aid in regaining your mental focus and clarity to get you through your day.
11. Assess Your Budget
Money is the root of all evil — but it is also the driving force behind why we wake up and go to work each day. The less you spend, the less you work. Doesn’t that sound like a better way to live life?
To be able to pursue a path in life that allows you to feel more fulfilled and happy, you need to know where your financial boundaries are. If the new life you picture takes place on a beach, you do not need to sell your family heirlooms to get there. Instead, set yourself up with a budget and a plan so you can save and make your dreams a reality.
12. Manifest Goodness
If you are considering starting a new life or recreating how you project yourself to the world, you need to know what you want the new version to look like.
How to stop screwing yourself over | Mel Robbins | TEDxSF
Does your new life have big financial goals, or is it your intention to move away from focusing on your career to spend more time with your family?
Creating a vision board is one way to help you to manifest what goodness you want in your life. Flipping through magazines and newspapers to snip out people, places, and items that help to define your dreams can be an eye-opening experience. Certain words you previously did not associate with yourself may be more appealing than before.
Sounds silly? It’s not. Consider creating them with friends or family members to see if their perception of you holds any weight in your plans for the future. Friends and family members can act as a mirror for ourselves at times. Seeing them surprised by your interest in different things may cause you to either think twice about that decision or pursue it with more vigor.
Be sure to revisit the board often to remind yourself of what you are working towards. It is normal for projections to change over time. There is no harm in creating a new vision board every year to refocus and fine-tune your intentions as you evolve as a person.
Remember, It’s Your Life!
When looking at the big picture of what is your life, note what you dislike, make a plan to change it, and move forward with decisive action.
How to motivate yourself to change your behavior | Tali Sharot | TEDxCambridge
You’ve only got one chance to live life on your terms (that we know of, at least). You have everything you need to achieve the level of success you hope to have in this life — you just have to reach out and grab it!
I think we are all open to making changes in our lives that make us happier and more successful, but few of us follow-through because committing to something that’s going to change our lives is a daunting and massive undertaking, right?
Hero Images | Getty Images
Not necessarily.
Instead of focusing on huge, radical steps, start moving forward by incorporating these eight changes that are so small and simple that you can implement them immediately.
These eight steps can drastically change your life for the better.
How Five Simple Words Can Get You What You Want | Janine Driver | TEDxHardingU
1. Reprogram your mind to stay positive.
Our thoughts and actions are influenced by our feelings. That’s why when you’re just feeling “blah” because the weather is crummy or you had a stressful week all you want to do is stay in bed.
Here’s the problem. Negativity is all around us. There’s nothing we can do about that, either, but what can do is learn how to reprogram our minds to stay positive. You can't trap every negative thought in the happy-clappy end zone of your mind, but can take charge of your thoughts by:
Keeping a gratitude journal. Jot down what you’re thankful for every day instead of worrying what you don’t have. Gratitude will make you happier, increase your productivity and help you sleep better at night.
Creating and repeating positive affirmations that acknowledge the progress you are making in the areas where you want to improve.
Surrounding yourself with positive people who lift your spirits. Remember, emotions are contagious.
Don't acknowledge negative thoughts.
Staying active. Exercise releases endorphins but idleness leads to over-analyzing and overthinking.
Related: A Little Gratitude Can Go a Long Way
THE CURE TO LAZINESS (This could change your life)
2. Set your alarm half an hour earlier.
One traits many successful individuals have in common is they get up early. While you don’t have to wake up at the ungodly hour of 3:45 a.m.. like Apple’s Tim Cook, you could start setting your early half an hour earlier. So, if you normally set your alarm for 7 a.m., set it for 6:30 a.m.
The reason?
This will give you some extra time in the morning to exercise, meditate, read, check your emails, have breakfast with your family, plan your day or work on something that you’re passionate about. It saves you from rushing out the door each morning feeling forgetful, unaccomplished and discombobulated. Time tracking is key to self-improvement.
Related: Sleep In and Make Millions: Why You Don't Need to Wake Up at 5 A.M.
3. Clean up after yourself immediately.
How long does it really take to make your bed or wash your morning dishes? Maybe five minutes? Here’s the thing. If you don’t stay on top of these minor chores, they quickly build-up. That cereal bowl and coffee mug becomes a sink full smelly dishes that take a lot of time to clean. If washed immediately, you wouldn’t have this headache.
Joe Rogan's Life Advice Will Leave You SPEECHLESS | Best Life Advice
What’s more, people who immediately clean-up after themselves, like making their beds every morning, tend to be happier, as well as more successful since it makes you feel accomplished, removes clutter, and gives them a sense of control.
Related: 11 Habits of Truly Happy People
4. Don't over-commit.
A common theme I notice with self-help advice is how people make goal-setting sound easy. They’ll suggest that you get more exercise or sleep, but that’s easier said than done when you’re working 12 hour days and helping with a newborn.
I’m not making excuses. Far from it. It’s just easier to commit and follow through successfully if you keep your goals simple and clearly defined. Start small and work your way up. Don't jump into a marathon headfirst if you need more exercise. Start with 10 push-ups a day, a walk down your block after dinner or this seven-minute workout plan that you can do in your room.
If you want to start eating healthier but aren’t much of a cook, try a service like Blue Apron or Sun Basket. They send healthy ingredients to your home and give you step-by-step instructions on how to prepare the meals. If you want to start meditating, start with devoting five minutes a day.
This rings true in the business world as well. When we started my company we tried to be everything to everyone. Now, we focus on being the best invoicing company out there. Don't overpromise and under deliver.
Dwayne Johnson - The Wake Up Call | One Of Most Compelling Speeches!
Related: The Tim Ferriss Approach to Setting Goals: Rig the Game so You Win
5. Don’t be so predictable.
Doing the same thing each and every day puts us in a rut. One of the best things that you can do for yourself is to stop being so predictable. Break out of your comfort zone at least once a week and do something new that you’ve never done before. Try that Thai restaurant. Go snowboarding. Purchase a wardrobe from a different store.
You get the point.
Opening ourselves up to new experiences makes us happier, changes our perspectives, helps us recognize new opportunities, boosts energy and makes us more receptive to change. This cycle circles back. New experiences will make you happier.
Related: Why You Need to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Arnold Schwarzenegger - Gym Motivation - Best Motivational Speech Compilation EVER
6. Swap complaining for expressing gratitude.
Even during my darkest times, I always tried to remain optimistic by reminding myself that despite the failure of my business, I still had the support of my family and friends. That helped me make the best of an otherwise dire situation.
One of the best ways to feel better when you need it most is by showing your gratitude. Be thankful for the best thing that happened to you today. I already mentioned keeping a daily gratitude journal, but I want to stress this can change your life. Researchers have found that;
Those who keep a weekly gratitude journal tend to exercise more, have fewer physical symptoms and are more optimistic about their futures.
Daily discussion of gratitude can increase alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, energy and sleep duration, as well lower reports of depression.
Individuals who think about, talk about or write about gratitude daily are more likely to help someone with a personal problem or offer emotional support.
Those who are grateful place less importance on material goods, are less envious of others and are more likely to share their possessions with others.
Daily gratitude practices may help prevent coronary artery disease.
Show your gratitude to friends, family, clients and colleagues. Sincerely thanking people is one of the best ways to strengthen relationships. After all, doesn’t it feel awesome when someone thanks you for your hard work, doing a chore, or just listening when they need to vent?
Music to put you in a better mood ~ lofi / relax / stress relief
Related: 3 Eastern Practices to Tame 'Monkey Mind'
7. Stop comparing yourself to others.
Stop losing sleep over what others have and what you don’t. Here’s the truth: there is always going to be someone who has a better paying job, lives in a nicer house, drives a fancier car and goes on more exotic vacations. Your friends may start families before you. Some might get to retire early.
Comparing yourself just makes you miserable and unhappily preoccupied about what others consider success. Instead, worry about what you define as success. When I started freelancing, I had friends who mocked me because I wasn’t making as much money as they were. The way I saw it, I had a flexible schedule, got to work wherever I wanted and never complained about work since I enjoyed what I was doing. My friends that gave me a rough time complained constantly about their jobs, colleagues, waking-up so early, etc.
Who do you think was happier?
Related: Your Workers Want Work Flexibility But Companies Benefit Most
Productive Music For Work | Chill Playlist
8. Tackle the one thing that you’ve been putting off.
We all put off that one thing: the phone call to your insurance company, cleaning up your desk, changing the batteries in the smoke alarms. Just like those dirty dishes I discussed earlier, setting priorities includes making certain seemingly small tasks don't build-up until you have to spend an entire day catching up.
If you have unfinished tasks, you are carrying a heavy weight around with you all the time, no matter how small each task is. You have to remember it. If possible, when you think of it, do it right then.
After you’ve listed your priorities for the day, add a long-standing chore to your to-do-list. For example, at the end of the workday, you’ll make that phone call or organize your workplace since you’ve already gotten all of your most important, and energy-draining, tasks done for the day.
You’ll be surprised at how much better, and productive, you’ll feel once you've crossed these items off your list -- even if it's just a mental list.
Each moment is a chance to change the course of your life. Your future is in your hands, but you’ll have to take a risk.
“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.”
S. Lewis
We’ve all come to a point where we just need to do something different with our lives.
SHOULD YOU QUIT YOUR JOB? | A Very Eye Opening Speech ft Jordan Peterson
Sometimes we’re in our comfort zone – where nothing new and interesting ever happens – for so long that we lose direction, purpose, motivation and desire to live the life we deserve.
But every now and then, we realize that it could have been better, and that it’s all under our control.
We see other people moving on after serious accidents, we see our friends chasing their dreams and reaching goals. And we start to see the state we’ve been in for the last few weeks/months/years. That’s when we know what we need.
A change.
Change is the ultimate way to start fresh, experience new things and become someone. No matter what kind of change we’re talking about, it is always for the better simply because it means that we are doing something different. That we get out of the prison we live in and get out there.
If this time we want things to be better, we need to take action.
Action is the beginning of change and it precedes success and all the beautiful things that will come into our life.
All you need is the ultimate desire, the determination to change and the belief that you can do it. Otherwise, if you don’t believe in yourself and your abilities, nothing permanent will happen.
So realize that this time your decision is final. You’ve decided to change and nothing can distract you from your goals. You now have the power to take every direction in life and achieve whatever you put your mind to.
Jordan Peterson: What Kind of Job Fits You?
Change is, however, often difficult. That is why if you want to do things in the right way and once and for all, you need to take extreme measures by doing something so decisive and final that you won’t be able to get back to the place you’re now at.
Here are 5 things – serious and ultimate – you can do right now that can change the course of your life:
How to Change The Course of Your Life
1. Quit your job.
top earning side jobs
It’s often one of the things that prevent you from succeeding and unleashing your true potential.
I know you probably need it to make a proper living, but if it gets you nowhere, brings only stress in your life, has turned you into a negative person, and doesn’t give you any chance to show your qualities, you don’t need it.
People often think they need their current full-time job because it gives them the security they are looking for. Well, it doesn’t because security nowadays is an illusion. Read more about that here.
So if you want to become someone and change the course of your life, if you have many ideas, want to start a new business and develop your personal projects, just quit your job and start working on that immediately. But work your ass off for a while so that you can start making an income sooner.
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Doing it on the side first is usually a good piece of advice and works pretty well. You’re basically keeping your job to pay the bills and investing all your free time (weekends, evenings, early mornings, lunch breaks) in your passion project until you start making money from it.
Then, once that income is bigger than your current one, you have no reason to keep living the 9-to-5 lifestyle.
But this doesn’t work out for everyone, and we’re talking about drastic things you can do right now that will change the course of your whole life. That’s why I suggest leaving your job.
How To Remember Everything You Learn
It’s risky and you’ll have to use your savings for the first few weeks/months. But that’s the single most important thing that will help you stay consistent and motivated.
You won’t be in the comfort zone of a regular job, won’t have money coming in and will fear going broke. And that’s exactly what will help you wake up super early and hustle till the evening, say no to many things, resist temptations, stop spending money too much, do your research and test everything, connect with influencers, and so on.
The job you now have is most probably killing your potential. Don’t let your boss/colleagues/boring tasks at work let you down and make you put up with this forever. You deserve more!
But to start something like that you need the motivation to really succeed. Quitting your job and having to start something new right away is the answer. A bit drastic one, but it sure works.
2. Move to another place.
101 killer ways to start the new year
Living in a new place is a great way to change the course of your life.
It’s not an easy thing to do considering the fact you will have to leave everything behind. That includes your family and friends, home, the places you are used to going every day, your past, acquaintances and connections.
But if you have already experienced and seen everything there is and know that nothing new or exciting is going to happen, then you need to leave and thus change the course of your life.
Sometimes the place we live in, no matter how much we love it, limits us. And within them we can’t evolve and improve. That’s when we need to go somewhere else.
Most of the times it doesn’t matter where you’re going. It must be a place far from home that has many opportunities for you and where you can exceed in life.
This way you will break free from your comfort zone and will have many new people, places and things in your daily round. Once you move there (it’s better if it’s another country, maybe even a culture totally different from yours), be open to everything new. Try new things, learn stuff, be brave, take chances and level up.
At some point, you may feel nostalgic, lonely and homesick, but keep in mind that this is temporary.
You can go home whenever you want after you create a better lifestyle, spend some time in an unfamiliar environment, come to interesting conclusions about yourself and your life, and grow spiritually.
Read also: 5 Things in Life That Won’t Wait
Barbara Oakley | Learning How to Learn | Talks at Google
3. Get an adrenaline rush.
Confront your fears by doing something extreme. Try bungee jumping, hang gliding, paragliding or else.
Once you feel the adrenaline this experience gives you, you will be able to look at the things in life from a different point of view.
However, getting an adrenaline rush doesn’t mean you should put your life in danger and do something that could harm you. What if you go skydiving and the parachute fails? You should do something that changes your life for the better without necessarily exposing you to death.
Doing this, though, will be a drastic change only while taking the action itself. You will see yourself as someone powerful who overcomes their fear of speed, height, etc. and will thus believe you can achieve more.
After that you may easily go back to your old habits. So it’s up to you to decide whether you want to feel that more often or you prefer the safe environment you’ve always had.
4. Take the journey of your life.
traveling is great for the soul
Travel the world to change the course of your life.
The most important skill for improving your life
If you are tired of your daily life and want something more, then you need to see and experience new things. Things that are completely different from what you’re used to.
That step usually requires resources and money, but not always. Even if you go to the other corner of the world, you can do it with minimum expenses. Check out the sites that offer tips on how to save money, travel light and be a minimalist in every aspect of your life.
Start with The Ultimate Guide to Traveling When You Have No Money.
What I’m suggesting is taking a long journey, to a place totally different from yours, to a country that is far away, and to experience every second of it by meeting the local people there, visiting famous and ancient places, eating different food, living like the locals, learning the language, etc.
Here are two examples that will change the course of your life even when you get back home after the trip.
Go to a country of the Third World. See how people live there, join organizations that help them, volunteer, make a difference. Going there will make you appreciate what you have, be compassionate and show understanding.
That will definitely be a life-changing experience after which you will no longer be the materialistic person with everyday issues that society taught you to be.
Or visit Thailand, Indonesia or The Philippines. Stay there for a couple of weeks so that you have time to visit its most interesting parts.
Communicate with people and try to learn as much about the culture as you can. Eat local food, go to the beach, swim with the dolphins, ride elephants, sleep in a tent, visit islands, try new challenging things.
You’ll love that life so much that when you come back you’ll be ready for some drastic changes in the way you think and live.
5. Make a big investment.
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That may be a risky one but big changes always require insecurity.
Improve your financial IQ. Learn the most important things about personal finance, investments, the stock market, banking and so on. Then use that knowledge to choose something promising to invest a certain amount of money in.
How I made my life a video game
You may win a lot in no time, you may lose everything or your bank account may stay the same. The only thing that is sure is that once you invest, you will become a more responsible person who makes big decisions.
After that, you’ll be open to try new ways to make money and will change your perception of what risk is. Big things won’t scare you anymore.
Related: The Only 10 Ways to Become Rich
So if you want to start a new life, to change some things about your current lifestyle, to evolve and try new and exciting stuff, you need to be able to take risks and serious decisions.
You need adrenaline, new people and places, insecurity and even a bit of peril. Only then will you be able to change your understanding of the world, to expand your horizons and be ready to achieve more and live better.
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Coronavirus has changed the world. Within just a few months, thousands of people have been infected all over the globe, there has been loss of jobs, loss of lives, and hundreds of thousands perhaps millions working from home. It’s a very uncertain time, a time where everything has suddenly changed and with change comes a lot of negative emotions like stress, anxiety, helplessness, and fear. So, the question is then, how do you deal with sudden change to make it through this time of turmoil?
Why our brains resist change
Our brains are powerful tools, tools that can become weapons, and in the instance of change, that’s exactly what they become.
According to Dr. Srini Pillay, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, when there’s change, “the conflict sensors in the brain become activated and this causes brain chaos that we call cognitive dissonance. This activation of the conflict sensor becomes stressful to people.”
Put simply, Cognitive Dissonance is that uncomfortable feeling that you get where you try to maintain two inconsistent beliefs at the same time or when you believe in one thing but act in a contradictory way. For example, in the case of the Coronavirus, many of us know things have changed drastically but our brains are struggling to really believe it. This discrepancy and conflict of feelings within us can be very unnerving.
Who are you?
How do you deal with sudden change?
Although it’s important to know that a negative reaction to change is normal, it’s even more vital to accept that this is just an initial reaction as the brain processes what’s been thrown at it.
It can be very easy to stay within this spiral, especially if you have the personality type that prefers the status quo over seeking novelty, but this is very detrimental to our mental health.
To help your brain adjust to the sudden changes caused by the Coronavirus and to help maintain your mental health in the weeks and months ahead, here are 16 strategies to try.
1. Don’t fight it, try to accept it
Suffering is what occurs when we resist what is already happening, so naturally, the best way to deal with it is to stop fighting and start accepting.
Obviously, this is easier said than done, since initial resistance to change is an evolutionary response within us as our brain shifts into protective mode. Like everything, however, with some training, our brains can learn to accept change and adapt to a different routine.
Rather than wishing things were different, try flowing with this change of circumstance instead. Focus on:
- Being present in each moment.
- The things you can control (your to-do list, self-care, the work for the future).
2. Remind yourself that even good change can cause stress
A promotion, going to university, buying a house, having a baby...even major life changes that are positive can cause a considerable amount of stress. So why, if these same conflict sensors are activated, can we deal with ‘positive’ change better?
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Most people and I say most people because it depends on your personality type, can cope with sudden changes if they’re considered positive purely because of their mindset. When we have the right perspective, we can channel our stress into being proactive which eventually helps us get through this anxious and uncertain time.
When it’s a negative change, however, our brain defaults to a negative bias for safety. Essentially this means that when there is uncertainty, our brain automatically expects the worst as it doesn’t like the odds of equations with unknown variables. Studies have shown this, “wherein people who are uncertain, 75% of people mispredict when bad things are going to happen. “
So how do you deal with sudden change if it’s negative?
- Recognise that your brain will go into an automatic negativity bias.
- Redirect uncertainty by repeating neutral self-talk phrases out loud - e.g. “Uncertainty simply means I don’t know the future. It does not mean the future is bad” or “Feeling uncertain doesn’t mean the future is negative; it just means I don’t know what it holds at this moment” - this is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy technique.
- Reframe your perspective - focus on positive details as much as possible and try to find an opportunity or lesson in the situation.
3. Make a plan
How do you deal with sudden change that brings so much uncertainty and anxiety with it? You take control of what you can.
There are so many worries and causes of stress during this time, so instead of hiding under the covers and seeing what happens (which considerably adds to the feeling of unease and helplessness), think about what you can control to ease it.
Start by making a plan and setting yourself goal intentions. I say “intentions” because you don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself during an already stressful time. Setting some goals, however, will help you feel in control of your life again. So what do you intend to do? Do you want to focus on self-care or your business development during this time? Whatever it is, be specific and add an actual time to it. E.g. I will meditate 10 minutes every morning or I will focus on business development for 20 minutes every Tuesday and Friday.
4. Keep up your regular schedule as much as possible
The more change that is happening, the more important it is to stick to your regular schedule. Again, this comes down to you taking control of what you can. The more control that you have, the less uncertain you will feel and the more able you will be to accept the changes that are happening around you.
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Having some things that stay the same, like getting up at 8 am and checking the news with a cup of tea or settling down before bed to read a chapter of your book, give us an anchor. These routines and habits remind us that some things stay the same and that’s calming for the brain. Not only that, but studies have also shown that when we concentrate on tasks at hand, this gives our unconscious mind a chance to keep processing, resulting in us reaching better decisions than when we are actively thinking about it.
If you’re very stressed and anxious, try writing down your routine so that you can tick it off as you go each day. It’s one less thing for your brain to think about.
5. Exercise often
I realise that this is a tough one, especially since many of us are confined to our houses, but we all know that exercise is good for us. It boosts our mood, it helps us sleep better, it keeps us healthy, and it significantly reduces symptoms of depression.
Exercise should be added into our daily routine so that it gets done, so find what works for you. If you’re used to regular exercise then three or four moves, three or four days a week for 15-20 minutes per session is enough to stay strong. You may have gym equipment at home or you can use household items. You may prefer to clean your home or to just put on some music and dance around the living room. Whatever it is, it’s important to get moving to get those endorphins flowing.
6. Try to eat as healthily as possible
According to Consultant Nutritionist Dr. Rupali Datta, "People eat a lot of food to comfort themselves and divert their attention from the current situation. They turn to mostly sugary and high-fat foods to feel relieved.”
I’m sure we’ve all been there. We feel sad or fed up, we turn to bad and unhealthy food, but then we feel bad or even worse. That’s because sugary and high-fat foods make us feel sluggish and can actually increase symptoms of depression.
When we’re struggling, it can be really hard to plan, cook, and eat healthily but this is absolutely essential during this time. Like everything else, put it into your plan, add it to your schedule and make sure you’re eating foods that will boost your immune system and affect your mood positively. The Association of British Dietitians recommends essential fats (nuts, seeds, avocados, Omega 3 oils), complex carbohydrates (oats, grains, brown rice), lean protein (meat, fish, eggs, lentils, beans), and whole grains, fruits and veg for essential vitamins and minerals.
7. Practice self-care
Too many of us don’t take care of our health. We get caught up in the busyness of life, we prioritise work, and we juggle until we’ve burned out. Sound familiar? It’s a sad reality, especially since our mental health is the foundation for everything that we do from our mood and wellbeing to our focus and productivity. With having to be constantly there for your clients at the moment, it’s easy to find yourself working very long hours with little in the way of a break.
In a time of such anxiety and uncertainty, our self-care needs to be a priority. You may not ‘believe in it’ or you may not think it will make a difference, but try it. What have you got to lose?
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Dr. Steve Orma, a CBT clinical psychologist who specializes in treating insomnia, anxiety, and stress, says that “to manage anxiety, you need to consistently check in with yourself about what you’re worrying about, then address it. Just as we create routines with exercise for our physical bodies, we should do the same for our mental health.”
As well as eating healthy and sleeping enough, here are a few exercises that you can add to your routine every day
- Daily journaling
- Meditating for 10 minutes every morning
- Any form of exercise (e.g. yoga)
8. Seek support
No one gets through life alone, and in a time where we are confined to our homes and encouraged to social distance when we do venture outside, social support has never been so important.
Numerous studies have shown that social support is essential for maintaining good physical and mental health. So what does this mean? It means that we should be talking, we should be seeking comfort in our family and friends, and we should be asking for help if we need it. Chances are, your friends and family need this too, so call them or skype them and laugh or cry together. Ask them if they are really okay. Download apps where you can play games together. Spend quality time with your family at home playing games and talking about life, when else do we get the time to really focus on this?
We realised our members were needing someone to be there for them during the Coronavirus crisis. That’s why we implemented daily ‘positivity’ group calls, monthly virtual member days, alongside our more normal fortnightly accountability calls.
9. Get proactive
While keeping busy to avoid dealing with your feelings is very detrimental to your health, being proactive is a stress-reliever.
If you have your routine ticking along and you want to feel empowered, think about what you can take charge of now to help you be in a better position later. This can be personal tasks or tasks for work. For example, is there anything that you can do which will have a positive impact on you now but will also make a difference later? Perhaps focusing on growing your social presence online? This is satisfying your social needs now but it is also essential for networking and winning new clients when everything is back up and running later. In fact, many of our members are finding by being proactive on social media they are winning clients right now.
10. Turn venting into action
Everyone is in a very similar position at the moment so talking about it is inevitable. While this is great for support and not feeling alone, it can get detrimental if the people who you are talking to are solely venting. This negativity and panic can be contagious.
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Positive social support of high quality can enhance resilience to stress, so if you’re talking to family or friends and their negativity is affecting you, try gearing the conversation towards action. Brainstorm together and talk about what you can do to make yourselves feel better? Hopefulness can be contagious too.
11. Delegate or outsource if you need to
Sometimes the weight of everything we need to do can be too much, especially during a time like this, but we can only spin so many plates.
If you have a team that you’re managing, delegate tasks or projects to them; they are there to help you. If you have certain tasks that you want to do but they are taking too much time, outsource them. I know this is a time of financial hardship for many, but if you can outsource the low-value tasks to give you more time to focus on the big picture stuff, then that’s a win in my eyes.
12. Build-in brain breaks
When we are trying to cope with these feelings of uncertainty and unease, our focus is going to be affected. We are not going to be as productive as we are used to, so instead of trying to firefight through your days, accept this and build-in brain breaks to your plan.
It is recommended that every 25-30 minutes, you should complete a brain break activity for 1-3 minutes. This is to stimulate your brain in a different way which research indicates improves concentration and efficiency while relieving stress. The most effective brain breaks incorporate some level of physical movement to stimulate neurological pathways and help both hemispheres of the brain work together (e.g. doodling, a pressure point massage, stretching etc).
As explained by Dr Pillay, when you’re focused, you are collecting different pieces of a puzzle with your mind, but unfocused time is the time you give to your mind to get these puzzle pieces together.
13. Focus on gratitude
A simple but effective way of putting your situation into perspective is to focus on gratitude. What are you most thankful for? What is going really well in your life right now? What do you appreciate? Start off each day with writing down three things that you are grateful for, they can be anything at all from your health and your family to that essential cup of coffee in the morning.
Focusing on the positives is a very healthy mindset to try and nurture. Has this sudden change made you and your family closer? Has it made you start practising healthier habits? Has it made you become more assertive, grateful, or courageous? Are you getting a buzz from being really close and helpful with your clients right now? Maybe it has helped you prioritise what is most important in your life. It is very easy to focus on the negatives, but change always presents us with the opportunity to grow so it’s important to acknowledge how things have gotten better as a result of it.
14. Deal with any grief and loss
This may seem like a weird tip to give but bear with me. When addressing the question “how do you deal with sudden change?” you have to address grief and loss. Why? Because we don’t just experience these feelings when losing a loved one.
Grief and loss can often be found at the heart of major life changes, just look at our current situation with the Coronavirus. Lots of people have lost loved ones but many have also lost jobs; many people’s businesses may go under, many have gone under, many can’t physically see their relatives, many people are stuck in a foreign country, many have to cancel their weddings, and the list could go on. Maybe your accountancy practice was growing rapidly until the Coronavirus hit? Trying to navigate this major time of change can feel like a loss in many ways so the only way to come out the other end stronger for it is to progress through the grief process and let these feelings go.
15. Take a step back from social media and the news
There’s power in knowledge, it allows us to properly take care of ourselves, but sometimes the more we know, the more we don’t want to. Social media and the news can fuel the feelings of panic and helplessness, so take a step back from it during this time.
Social media, especially, evokes negative feelings. During stressful times like this, it can be very easy to browse through the “highlight reels” of everyone’s lives and feel like you’re the only one who’s struggling. If you find that you’re comparing yourself to others, step away from it. With both social media and the news, try to schedule in a certain amount of time each day to look at it and that’s it.
16. Give yourself a break
How do you deal with sudden change? Give yourself a break!
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In a time of such major change, feeling a little out of control or scared or depressed is normal. You shouldn’t push yourself too much or set your expectations too high as you won’t be functioning at 100% right now, so give yourself a break when you need it.
If you’re finding it hard, don’t be hard on yourself. Focus on the good, the positives and laugh as much as you can. Laughing increases dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins which all serve to make you feel good.
We can’t control change but we can cope with it
We can rarely if ever, control major life changes like the Coronavirus, but we can control how we cope with it. Starting with accepting how we are feeling about the situation and understanding that our brains are working against us to protect us from this change initially, we can then implement these 16 strategies into our daily lives to work through it.
With a lot of structure, routine, healthy habits, self-care, and support, we can make it through sudden changes in life with our mental health intact and come out the other end much better prepared for the opportunities that the future holds.
What helps you? How do you deal with sudden change?
