The past few months may have been dampened by uncertainty – whether related to health, finances or jobs. But there’s only so long you can ride that wave before you crave stability. We all crave structure and certainty – it’s part of the human condition, it makes us feel safe. Enforcing your own reset can help get this back into your life. So, how can you manually hit that reboot button?
Here’s how to find our groove in the last four months of the year – and make them count.
Reflect and set goals
One way to think about a reset is to mentally wind the clock forward to the end of the year. Picture yourself looking back over the last few months (September to December) and ask: in order to feel satisfied with the last part of 2020, what will I need to have done?
For some people, this may simply be: “I’m okay with just surviving”. For others, it might mean taking a moment to reflect and consider what they want to do in the next four months. Now, set some goals around achieving that.
As an example, that might be buying a house. But don’t set a goal that says “buy a house”. Break it down into manageable chunks. What do you actually need to do to buy a house? Research an area to live, figure out your budget, and speak to a mortgage advisor, for example.
Now’s also a good time to take stock of what’s happened in the past six months. You might not want to reflect on lockdown, but try to look back on it in a positive light. What have been the wins? What have been the behaviours and habits that benefitted you, that you want to keep?
It’s good to assess the positives so you can keep them in place going forward. And if there haven’t been many, don’t worry too much. Reflect back to this time last year and consider what was happening then to make you happy, compared to now. Or simply ask yourself: when life is as good as I want it to be, what am I doing? Now, make space to do those things.
The most important thing is to pay attention to your own wellbeing. As a result of doing that, you’re going to put yourself in the best place mentally and emotionally to make decisions.
Take time off
Another way to force a reset is to take a few days off – this is particularly advised for those who haven’t been able to have a decent holiday since the pandemic hit. Yes, you can still burnout if you’re working from home.
Have a change of scenery – either go away or plan days out. A good way of identifying what’s going to help you is to write on a piece of paper: if I had a magic wand, what would I do? Where would I go? Write it down so you get a sense of what is cathartic for you, what’s going to restore you. Some people might say: I’d really love a day to tidy my house, or a day to have a nice lunch and long walk with a friend.
If you can’t take lots of time off, create a mini-break or spa day at home. Focus on what small things you can regain control of or change. And be creative and make-do rather than go for ultimate changes.
Create structure in your life
There are small, manageable things you can do to take back control and certainty in your life. What’s most important is focusing on things that create structure. We often tread that fine line between familiarity and novelty, and during the pandemic, there’s been too much novelty and not enough structure. But it’s helped us focus on the small stuff and how little things can restore our sense of control.
To cope with an uncertain future, reframe problems as creative challenges. Maintain an attitude of curiosity about the world and practise gratitude, even for the small stuff. At the end of each day, write down three things you’re grateful for, and at the start of each day write down three things you’re looking forward to.
At DGL, we believe a little structure to the day goes a long way! If you are struggling and would like assistance in goal setting for you and your business, please reach out to our Team.
Article sourced by Huffington Post.