Below are a few tips to help you reduce the friction and negative emotions that lockdown may be starting to have on you.
Acceptance
When we accept our situation it changes the way we filter our environment for negative or positive signs, once we accept and move on we see more opportunity, reduce the energy cost of worry, and creates neural change that drives motivation
Storyteller
Whenever we go through something difficult, we try and internally make meaning of it through our internal narrator, this internal storyteller is something that we can control, however. If we create a positive story to give meaning to these events it increases the positive growth and experience that we use to remember those periods. Remember you are the hero of your story and every good hero has to overcome a challenge.
Routine
If we maintain a good routine, it reduces any further negative emotion as we are able to better predict our daily energy budget at a subconscious level and reduces any unnecessary anxiety.
Habits
If we maintain a good routine, it also reduces the chance of creating negative or downhill habits that are formed when we look for distraction from negative emotions. Any downhill habits that we form now are difficult to change when things go back to normal.
Connection
Remember to maintain connection throughout these periods, although we have reduced personal contact.
Curiosity
Try and approach the rest of your lockdown with a sense of curiosity, try and learn something new, create some challenges for yourself or try and improve at something you already do. When we are in a state of curiosity it creates neural changes and any negative feelings.
Interaction
We can still leverage all the benefits available to us now throughout our virtual means. It’s never been easier to stay in touch so make sure you don’t create a feeling of isolation for yourself.
