Ten Things To Support Resilience

Here are another ten things that you can do to support your resilience when things aren't going as well as they could;

1.      See things for what they are - Your brain will try to exaggerate problems, don't let it. Keep things in perspective. So often when things go wrong we get stuck in this position and can't see a way forward. Break problems into small bits and move forward as quickly as you can.

2.     Don't criticise yourself - If you make a mistake, acknowledge it and move on. Don't use self-talk (talk to that person inside your head) to harbour guilt, regret, or to disparage yourself. Focus on what you can do to repair any damage or just put it down to one of life's lessons and learn from it.

3.     Find what matters - When things get all too busy in your life, don't try and take on everything. Work out a plan of what you can and can't do in your available time, what does and doesn't matter to you, and what you need to let go of. Focus on doing a few things really well.

4.     Delegate - If you have too much on your plate, delegate. Get others to help you, they will enjoy the opportunity of doing so and you will feel rewarded.

5.     Focus on end results - When you are buried in work, focus on the finish line. Visualise the exhilaration of completing the onerous task and the time that you will have to do other things once you have finished.

6.     Take time out for you - Spending just five minutes alone each day can recharge your batteries for a full day. Sit in a quiet space, no phones, no sounds, just silence. 

7.     Be in the present - We tend to hold on to guilt and regret and cannot see the future. Being in the moment overcomes this. A recent study showed that the simple task of eating a raisin could lower your stress levels. Touch it, smell it, roll it between your fingers, bite into it, taste it, chew it. Well, you get the picture. This distracts your brain from negative thoughts and heightens your senses.

8.     Take an interest in others - Get actively involved in what others are doing. Explore what they are doing and feed off their self-interest. 

9.     Try different things - Our brain needs to be kept well-fed with ‘thoughts’ otherwise it will look for problems. Try new things to generate excitement for your brain. This will also increase your self-confidence and happiness levels.

10.   Create strong relationships - People are the most important 'things' in our lives. Be around them, talk with them, and form as many strong relationships as you can. A problem shared is a problem halved!