How to Stay Positive When it is Difficult to Do So

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many aspects of our lives have been changed, and sometimes it seems as if things might not go back to how they used to be. This may cause you to feel discouraged or pessimistic about the future. You might feel like things are never going to get better, but this is unlikely the case. It may be a better idea for you to focus on positive things, so you don’t put your health at risk with anxiety or stress. Here are ways that you can increase your positivity.

Say Something Positive to Yourself Each Morning

While it might sound corny, if you wake up and say something nice to yourself, this may be able to set a tone for your day. Alternatively, you can write your thoughts down in a journal; just be sure that you add positive thoughts as well as negative thoughts to your journal entries. “Staying positive may be able to lengthen your life versus being negative much of the time.

Keep in Contact With Loved Ones

One way that your life may have been affected the most by COVID is being unable to spend time with friends and family like you have in the past. There might be people that you haven’t seen in quite some time and wish you could visit with them. This may not be possible yet, in all cases, but you can still keep up with them. Reach out to people you love and care about, so you will be able to maintain a relationship with them, even when you can’t be in the same space together. You may still be able to plan outdoor outings or watch television simultaneously via video call. Furthermore, you can chat with them on their social media pages, so you don’t lose track of what is going on in their lives.

Spend Time with Your Family

If you have other people in your household, remember that they are in the same boat as you. They have been affected in similar ways, so take the time to bond with them. Plan a few activities together and spend time getting to know each other. For example, you can schedule an in-home movie marathon with your partner, or a specially themed slumber party with your kids. You don’t need an excuse to have fun with your immediate family, and it may help you remember that there are things that you are grateful for.

Practice Mindfulness

Something else to consider is practicing mindfulness. This is a technique you should employ when you are feeling stressed or frazzled. It involves paying attention to the moment that you are in. To practice it, you can simply stop what you are doing and take the time to notice things right in front of you. When a work project is really bothering you, take a break for a few minutes. Look around your space and make a mental note of all the things in the room that you bought in the past year. This provides you with a quick break, and your brain is focusing on right now instead of the issue that was causing you stress.

Talk to a Therapist

You can also consider talking to a therapist about how you feel about current events. Watching the news every day may be causing you anxiety, especially if you are already upset that you can’t do certain things that you used to take for granted. It may be necessary to limit the amount of news you are reading or watching. Moreover, a therapist can help you develop coping strategies, mindfulness techniques, and provide advice on how to stay optimistic. Look at this site for more details on current events and how therapy can help you address the effect they have on your life.

Watch What You’re Eating

Another strategy to investigate when you are working on being more positive is to watch what you are eating. You may be feeling down because you aren’t getting the nutrition that you need. Consider adding more fruits and vegetables into your diet and intaking the right number of calories. Think about fixing your diet gradually, so you are able to stick with the changes. This may have a long-lasting effect that is sustainable.

Get Enough Sleep

Inadequate sleep can also throw off your moods. Sleeping 6-8 hours each night is ideal and is what you should try your best to achieve. One way to approach this is to have a special wind down before bed. Turn off your screens and electronics and lay in a cool dark room to go to sleep. When you are doing this each night at the same time, it may signal to your body that this is the right time to relax.

Do Things You Enjoy

Are there things that you enjoy doing that you may have been neglecting? Go ahead and do these things from time to time. This might help you become more positive overall and improve your state of mind. You can take a long walk with your dog or watch your favorite comedy special. There’s no wrong answer, so do what brings a smile to your face. This also includes taking a break when you are overwhelmed. If you simply need a break, there’s nothing wrong with this and you should take the time you need to readjust your thoughts.

Conclusion

It can be a challenge to stay positive in light of current events, but it isn’t impossible. When you are able to take the tips in this article into consideration, including working with a therapist and practicing mindfulness exercises, you may notice a difference in how often you are feeling positive. Many of them are simple to incorporate, especially if you don’t try to make sweeping changes in your life overnight. Keep working on your positive attitude and with time, you might become as optimistic as you want to be.

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

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