I'm normally upbeat and positive and started this pandemic with that attitude -- looking for small ways to help like dropping groceries off on the porch of my in-laws, donating blood, and ordering takeout to support local restaurants.
But about a week into this crisis, I started struggling emotionally. I found myself stress snacking, indulging in more wine than usual, and staying up way too late.
I know I'm not alone. Our normal is gone. We are bombarded with coronavirus updates — on the news and on social media. There’s so many heartbreaking stories everywhere you turn.
I decided I needed to find positive ways to snap out of the doldrums. I didn’t want to get to the other side of this pandemic not liking the person I was during it.
I had to remind myself to look for the good — find the kindnesses and stories of connection. For my own good, I had to focus on those stories and on my own mental and physical health.
I also decided to set some goals for myself. Making progress on a worthy goal is one surefire way I know to make myself feel better.
Finding ways to take control
Why would I suggest you focus on a goal now — at a time when you’re likely low on time and patience?
It’s because I know what takes people down — and that’s a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. This situation is out of our control.
So find something you can control. When you focus on a positive goal — no matter how small — that you can make progress on daily, I bet you'll feel so much better.
Keep it a small goal — after all, you are not only at home keeping your household running, but also perhaps trying to work and educate your kids.
That’s a lot. `
So make it small. Organize your sock drawer. Call up a friend to reconnect. Make a new healthy dish your entire family can enjoy. Start taking a regular family walk outside after a meal.
For me, my goals right now are as small as reading a few pages of a book a day, doing a workout, or writing this column.
These small steps get me closer to bigger goals, and remind me to keep at healthy habits. If I can do something — anything — toward achieving my goals, I feel better. The world feels a little more normal. I feel more in control.
So I encourage you to find a goal you care about and take a few steps toward completing it today.
Keep inching forward, even while your world is upside down. You'll be rocking your resilience and investing in your mental health at the same time.
 | Sandra Bilbray is a nationally published writer, positive human, and publisher of Macaroni Kid Asheville, N.C. She lives in Asheville with her husband, twin girls, and two dogs. Email Sandra at SandraB@MacaroniKid.com |
