2020 felt like a huge time suck for most people. Were we suppose to be productive during a pandemic, or finally give ourselves a break after the the whole world shut down? With tons of people out a job and family’s still struggling many people (MYSELF INCLUDED) are worried that 2021 will just be more of the same.
Through every downfall, mistake, and low point of last year I keep reminding myself that “Tough times make tough people.” Whether we want to admit it or not we are stronger for having lived through 2020 and unfortunately it looks like we will have to continue to thicken our skin going into 2021.
I’m feeling pushed to my limit already, but here are a few ways we all can toughen our minds and hopefully get through this next pandemic year with better mental health.
GET READY TO BE CHALLENGED EVEN MORE
See failure as the default setting so you don’t freak the fuck out as much when failure comes for you. All mistakes SHOULD be a learning experience and can make us be more humble in the face of new challenges. Don’t let your pride or ego get in the way fo experiencing true growth.
HAVE A REASON TO GET OUT OF BED
Many of the days of last year I slept in as much as I could till the point where I was so sore I had to get out of bed. Without me knowing it, I was avoiding my day because I had nothing to look forward to. This is why it’s so important that we make a few plans for self care so our entire life isn’t just work, food, and sleep. Even if it’s just 15 mins of “me time”, giving yourself permission to learn something new, or catching up on your newest binge on Netflix take time to TREAT YOUR SELF EVERY DAMN DAY.
TURN YOUR EMPATHY UP TO 11
Everyone is on edge right now and it’s easy to get frustrated but people need understanding now more than ever. There are only so many things in this world we can control, and luckily being kind to each other and ourselves is something we hold unique power over. So before you judge a stranger or show frustration to a loved one, try to put yourself in their shoes for a minute. Sometimes you just don’t know what people are going through and the next words that come out of your mouth could cause serious mental damage to an already broken person.
DON’T LET FEAR STOP YOU THIS YEAR
The fear of pain and suffering can be so overwhelming it can stop any dream or goal right in the planning phases before you get to any of the good stuff. But I’d rather feel pain than the hot sting of regret for not even trying. Plus more often than not, those negative thoughts are crazy hyperbolic and if we just take even the smallest steps towards our goals we will likely make more progress than we ever thought possible.
GAIN CONFIDENCE BUT LOOSE THE NEGATIVITY
Stop pretending your’e confident because faking your way through life will only mask your insecurities vs challenging the way you see yourself so you can actually be confident. A big part of this process comes down to not giving a fuck what people think of you. Think about it, is the goal to be accepted by the estranged masses or happy with the few people that make life worth living?