Mindscape: The landscape of thoughts, a reification of the domain of imaginary entities, memories, feelings, ideas, fears or any other object in the mind. – The Urban Dictionary
You’d be forgiven for feeling a bit beaten up at the moment. Covid-19 has certainly grabbed the headlines!
The world has become unpredictable, chaotic and scary. Change is fast, sudden and extreme. Our health systems are either struggling or collapsing completely. So many people face real and sustained financial hardship. Businesses, jobs, health, supply chains, retirement savings, the way we connect and interact are all in peril. Isolation and loneliness are a real risk. It is natural to feel a bit anxious. I’d suggest a bit of anxiety is a proportional response to our collective situation
Protecting your mindscape and mental well-being has never been more important. But what can you do when it feels like events are overwhelming and nothing is in your control? Here are few tips that we hope are useful:
1. Be kind
Be kind to others and especially be kind to you.
Everyone is stressed-out and anxious to some degree. A smile will go a long way in brightening a person’s day and if you are on the receiving end of another person’s negative energy then breathe. Take a step back and breathe. We all react differently to stress. If you can avoid pouring fuel on a fire you will avoid the risk of escalation.
Also, remember to be kind to you too. If you are feeling frazzled around the edges then tell people, share how you are feeling. Give people a chance to understand. You might find that sharing the burden helps.
2. Be realistic
Feeling over-whelmed with it all? Focus on what you can influence. So much right now is out of our control. Avoid trying to control it, you won’t win. Make your world smaller. Focus on what you can achieve. Being disciplined in how you approach your day will empower you. Finding or creating routine in your days will also help.
3. Protect your mindscape
Make decisions about what you put in your head. Your mindscape is precious. Managing what you let into your brain is a key aspect of caring for your mental well-being.
Being plugged in all the time to the headlines, reality of hardship and the devastation to people’s lives can result in anxiety, especially if you are spending a great deal of time in that space. Make an effort to unplug and find an alternative activity such as reading a book, getting some exercise or meditating. It’s about finding a balance. Develop your self-awareness and modify what you are doing to get better results.
4. Connect
We are certainly all in this together. Take the initiative and reach out. Ask people how they are going. We can do our best to be there for each other.
Share a happy moment. There is so much great material online. Celebrities are doing concerts, comedians are cracking jokes, parents are sharing home schooling tips. If you come across something entertaining share it. Bring someone else a smile.
5. Adapt
Adaptability is a key part of developing resilience. People and businesses that can adapt and re-invent themselves during a time like this will come out the other side stronger and be able to flourish.
You will likely need to adapt given our current situation. This means you may need to get a job in a new industry so can pay some bills. You may need to ask for a helping hand for a short time or you may need to learn a new skill. The more creative and open to opportunities you are the more resilient you will be.
We wish everyone the very best of luck during these difficult times!
May your pantries be full, your bathrooms abundant with toilet roll and your family members tucked up safely.
