Based on your lifestyle choices, relationships, and interests, it’s likely you know yourself as either someone who thrives off regular routine and structure or is the type of person to live in the moment with more spontaneity to your day. The truth of the matter is that during stressful times or challenging situations, everyone, regardless of your personality, can benefit from following a routine and working to replace some unhealthy coping strategies with healthier habits.
Living in these modern times, you must learn to adapt to the constant changing and unpredictability of the world. This can be especially challenging and anxiety-provoking if you do not have the tools to stay organized and focused on positive outcomes. If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed or uneasy about what the future holds, take a few moments to review this list to help get your mind refocused in the right direction.
1. Focus on Food
As you have probably heard before, what you eat daily directly impacts the way that you feel. If you are constantly waiting until you’re starving to decide what to eat, you might tend to make poorer choices when it comes to food—such as resorting to the drive-through, microwave meals, or available snacks in your cupboard. One way to get on track and feel better both mentally and physically is to prepare a meal schedule for the week. Even if you prep just a few days a week, cooking meals at home can save you money while helping you eat healthier in the process. Pick out a few recipes and make a grocery list so you’ll have all the ingredients you need for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Cooking for one or two people can feel time consuming, so don’t be afraid to make extra for someone else in your life. Check out some delicious make ahead meals that will last in the fridge and will taste just as good reheated. This way you will have a quick and simple meal for the next day or later in the week—freeing up a few hours for something else.
2. Move Your Body
Oftentimes people underestimate the power of daily movement. During times of stress especially, movement and exercise is a great way to release tension, improve concentration and focus, and encourage a positive mood. By dedicating about 20 minutes a day to some type of exercise, such as walking, biking, yoga, a trail run, or even playing in the backyard with your kids, you can reduce your stress levels immensely and support a healthy body in the process.
3. Get Organized
Cleaning and decluttering might not seem like the most entertaining way to spend an afternoon, but when life seems to feel unmanageable, getting your home in order can have positive benefits to your mental health and well-being. You can even make cleaning a fun activity to do with your partner or kids. Set aside a few hours to declutter your home—go through old boxes, make a pile of clothes to donate, and throw out expired food items in the back of your pantry. Try to catch up on laundry or do any maintenance cleaning to the bathrooms or bedroom that you have been trying to get to. Remember that while you can’t always control everything in your life, making your home a relaxing space can help you feel more settled.
4. Strive for Quality Sleep
Another highly underestimated component of health is the amount of quality sleep you’re getting each night. If you are a new parent or work night shifts, your sleep schedule might be a bit off or unpredictable. In that case, it’s even more important that you make your rest a priority and sleep when you do have the time—rather than scroll on social media, binge watch tv, or distract yourself only to diminish your ability to feel your best tomorrow. If you have a more regular schedule, further elevate your sleep by creating a calm, clean and relaxing environment, as this will help promote great quality sleep when you are able to relax.
5. Get Your Finances in Gear
If you do not currently spend time managing your finances or preparing for future investments, now is the time to do so. Financial stress is one of the top reasons couples get divorced—along with the many other arguments and issues that money can cause. Don’t wait until your finances are a mess to organize your accounts and spending habits. It would be in your best interest to adopt a plan now, such as creating a budget you can stick to and track your spending for a few months. This way, you can determine an accurate baseline for your income and expenditures and create a plan that works for your lifestyle. Of course, spending flexibility is nice for things you enjoy, such as, trips, eating out, social events, or self-care. Having a detailed view of your financial situation can put you in a place to enjoy these things knowing you’ll have the financial backing to support it.
6. Prepare for Tomorrow
When you begin to feel a sense of worry or what the future holds, the best thing you can do is take action. Rather than create possible worst-case scenarios in your mind, try to be proactive when it comes to your future health, wealth, and family safety. If you are a young, healthy individual you might not have considered purchasing a life insurance policy just yet. Although commonly overlooked at this stage of life, it’s actually a good time to consider reviewing policy options in order to get the best rate due to the fact that you have a better chance of being in better health standing at a younger age. Consider taking some time to learn about the cost of life insurance and how much protection you would need to support your family and loved ones in the case of your unexpected passing or illness. Life insurance also helps to prevent the burden of mortgages or student loan debts to be passed on to your loved ones as well. It’s never too soon to plan ahead and getting your financial future secure and preparing for any circumstances can help provide you with additional peace of mind.
7. Do Something You Love
When trying to promote your own health and happiness it’s critical to fall back into things you love doing. Although they might seem unimportant or a waste of time, carving out some time to do an activity you are passionate about can relieve stress and take your mind off a worrisome, yet totally uncontrollable situation. If none of that sounds appealing to you, it can be just as beneficial to try something new. You’d be surprised to see what you can find during times of change and uncertainty that might become an important part of your life.
8. Foster Meaningful Relationships
When you are navigating a tough time or a change of lifestyle, the people you surround yourself with can truly make or break the situation. Focus on spending time with people who lift you up, listen to your concerns, and provide positive support. Distance yourself from individuals who are making personal growth difficult or adding additional stress. Don’t be afraid to chat with someone outside your typical circle, as sometimes a new perspective is all the clarity you need to get you through the day. Openly talking about your struggles with another person not only helps you feel better, but you never know who else you can help by opening up.
There is no way to avoid change, stress, or uncertainty during your lifetime—but there are certainly ways to make a challenging situation better. By adopting healthy routines, preparing for the future, and getting your life organized, you can put yourself in the right mindset to build from where you’re at and thrive in the future.
