It goes without saying that it’s been a difficult year for everyone, and it’s not like all the challenges will suddenly disappear overnight. Staying positive during tough times can be tough, but it is possible.
On top of all the real-world events, the winter months can always be difficult (remember, the vitamin D from the sun makes a huge difference for your physical health, so a lack of it in December and January can make a big difference).
With spring finally arriving, there are many ways for you to give yourself all the love and attention you need to keep calm and carry on.
There are plenty of big changes and little adjustments you can make to your outlook and day-to-day routines to put a smile on your face, so read on to maybe get that spark of energy or inspiration.
Love Your Mind
When checking the news on the telly or the newsfeed on your mobile, it’s easy to just sigh in frustration and try to shut all the depressing stories out. Plenty of studies have been done to show that spending too much time online ‘doom-scrolling’ (just going through your social media pages and seeing everyone else complain) can definitely have an adverse effect on your mental health.
That’s why it’s important to counterbalance this with positive stories and fun diversions. It’s not that you are ignoring or denying the existence of the bad news, but are reminding yourself that the world is not all dark.
The internet has become so important to how we live our lives these days, but sometimes turning the phone or laptop off can be the best peace of mind you can have. Meditation has always gone through periods of being the latest fad and then not so much, but giving it a try every so often can make a big difference.
Sitting on a rug with your back straight and breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth seems too simple to have an effect, but you might find that even doing it for ten or fifteen minutes a day can be a great life hack.
Love Your Body
The body is the temple of your mind, and that means giving it the proper attention is essential. There are many ways to do this, and that can go from the literal surface to the ways your various digestive and respiratory systems work together. If you are happy with what you see when you look in the mirror, then it’s a credit to you and your own body positivity. Good advice can come from anywhere, like waxing and shaving suggestions from the medieval era to skincare tips from a London escort. Even help from a magazine about staying positive during tough times – help and advice is everywhere.
Trying new things can be a little thrill all by itself, but the real changes can be made when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, and that means being active and eating proper. There’s no reason to think this has to include an onerous boot-camp-style exercise set-up or putting your stomach through the wringer by suddenly cutting one sort of food from your meal.
Little changes like making a point of going for long walks regularly and swapping out sweets for some veggies from time to time can be a proper change that you will feel good about.
Love Everybody
Sometimes the first thing you want to do when something goes pear-shaped is reaching out to a close friend or loved one, and there’s a good reason for that, as it really does have a positive effect on your health.
Even if the people in your social circle can only offer a sympathetic ear or a shoulder to cry on, just opening up to them at all can take a huge weight off your shoulders. On the flip side of this, doing the same for them as they are experiencing difficulties is just as important.
Being there for others makes you feel better about yourself as well. It is a positive, pay-it-forward feedback loop that the world sorely needs right now.
Doing Something For Others
While it seems common sense that you would act this way for friends and family, to make a bigger impact in your community (both real world and online) means treating everyone this way. Volunteering in your community is a great way to raise awareness for some social issues that are of concern, and there’s nothing wrong with feeling proud about doing your part to ease a stranger’s burden. Helping at a local food bank or just spending time with a senior citizen can be a very rewarding experience.
Doing the same online is a bit trickier because it is a place where miscommunication is rife and ‘assuming the worst’ is natural. It is not so much a matter of playing peacemaker, but simply focusing on putting a positive face and attitude on anything you might post or reply to.
If there is ever someone who makes a senseless personal attack, the best thing to do is not respond at all, no matter how good you might think it would feel to land a clever quip. Consider closing that tab and going to watch a video full of puppies and kittens instead. In fact, posting a link to that video would be the best sort of reply.
Love All the Little Things
Sometimes you don’t need people at all to cheer you up (as the above-mentioned puppy or kitten video will prove). Sometimes all you need are old hobbies that you can return to from time to time (sewing and crocheting are excellent ways to pass the time, reduce stress and end up with a pair of socks at the end).
Branching out into new pastimes like video games can be quite affordable and open up plenty of virtual worlds to explore. For all the good and bad of the online world, it has made it easier to have any sort of collection or curiosity cabinet. You can find plenty of trinkets available for sale online, and finding a diamond in the rough can make you feel like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft.
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
Leave a Reply