A pandemic, job loss, inflation: just one of these things can cause a staggering amount of stress. To have all three at once can be life-altering. Whether you are dealing with financial setbacks or struggling with mental health, you may be wondering how you will get back on your feet again. It’s time to reclaim your power and make small, easy, daily decisions to help you stand up and take charge of your life!
Encouragement Before Beginning
You should know that failing does not mean you are a failure. Inventor Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times when trying to create a light bulb, or rather, in his own words “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps." So, take courage and look at this experience as just that: an experience. One you can either choose to learn from or choose to get lost in.
Time to RESET
If you are reading this article, chances are that you are ready for a change. Change can, however, be daunting and challenging to maintain. When you find yourself getting overwhelmed, try these simple steps:
Recover – Take a deep breath and rest a moment to clear your mind. As you create new habits, expect yourself to struggle and make peace with that struggle. Remind yourself that setbacks are a part of life and the next steps in this process will help you move forward again.
Experience – Allow yourself to feel whatever emotion arises, but remember to not wallow in your feelings. You will be better able to deal with your emotions as you identify them and stay in control of your decision-making by not making decisions while emotionally upset.
Support – Set up a support system as soon as possible. This can include family, friends, health professionals, and anyone in your network. Be careful in this step: the people in your support system have needs too, so be ready to accept the role of support person in return. The idea is to find people who can help you think of solutions to problems, and hopefully, point you toward resources that can help you. For example: if you have lost your job, reach out to others to see if they know of a company hiring for your skillset.
Education – Get the information that you need. If you need help with debt reduction, search online for budgeting insights and debt consolidation. Find out what programs are available in your area to help you with rent, food, and other necessities. If you are feeling stretched thin from taking and picking up your child(ren) from school every day, start a carpool group where you are only responsible for taking kids one to two days a week. If you want to cut down on using gasoline, research what stores offer free delivery to your doorstep, especially for groceries (helpful tip: doing so will prevent last-minute purchases not on your grocery list AND save you time that you would spend on shopping the aisles).
Tackle – Tackle one challenge, one step at a time. Too many tasks can prevent you from completing anything, so focus your attention and energy on a single task until it is completed. You will be amazed at all you can do as you hone in on what needs to be done and then do it without distraction.
Most importantly, don’t give up!