Try these simple practical tools and help shift your mindset into a more positive place to help ease the strain of lockdown.
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Daily Intentions
Try and set an intention for the day ahead in the morning for the next 5 days and see what unfolds; check in with yourself at the beginning of each day to see what you need right now: ask yourself, How do I want to FEEL today? This can be as simple as empowered, heard, energetic, focused etc.
Then ask yourself, what do I NEED to feel this way? It can be eating more vegetables, checking your phone or social media less, video calling a friend, taking 10 minutes at the end of the day for some mindful meditation.
Throughout the day, check-in with yourself and see how you are aligning your daily actions with what you initially set out.
2. Self-compassion
Give yourself a self-compassion break! The three core elements of self-compassion are: mindfulness, common humanity and kindness – pick whichever phrases for each element resonate most with you, and say them to yourself whenever you feel you need to give yourself a self-compassion break, and be kind to yourself.
3. Let go!
When it comes to self-care it is just as important to consider what you need to let go of, as it is to nourish yourself with positive habits. It’s important to regularly look at the things you could do with leaving behind in order to make space for more time for all the good stuff.
If you can let go of 1 or 2 of these negative habits, you will gain SO much more quality time in your life…. What could you do with shedding for a slightly lighter and happier lockdown experience?
4. Thought shake
If you are feeling a bit low, seek positive inspiration from others. It helps shake your thoughts up – replacing any negative chatter in your head with positivity instead.
This might mean listening to your favourite music, listening to an uplifting podcast, or reading an inspirational book. If you choose a book or a podcast; set an alarm for 10 minutes, read/listen away and then you will come away feeling much more positive and ready to get on with the day again.
5. Gratitude
Gratitude is a fantastic little mindset makeover tool and something you can practice throughout the day. Try and be in the moment of whatever you are experiencing and mentally note down what you are grateful for in that moment. For example – a child’s laugh.
Just be in that moment and mentally note down how grateful you are for that magical laugh. Try and rack up as many of these as you can throughout your day. You will shift your mindset into a positive ‘high vibe’ zone!
6. Reframing
Try and flip a negative into a positive! Give yourself permission to feel whatever you feel without judgment and then make a conscious choice to focus on strengths, resources, and solutions to get your needs met. Here’s an example: “My toddler is just so defiant→→My toddler is so courageous!”
Louise Murray is a Health & Mindfulness Coach with the qualification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a mindfulness coach. She looks at nourishing people ON and OFF the plate by coaching them around 12 different aspects of one’s life.
Through her work Louise discovered that its busy working women, who often put their own needs last after family and career, benefit from her support the most. She helps them fill their lifestyles with healthy balanced choices and live truly well, being the best version of themselves.