Fifteen Ways To Be Mentally Strong During This Virus Challenge

Fifteen Ways To Be Mentally Strong During This Virus Challenge

1.         START YOUR DAY WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.  Every morning, whether little or big, find three things you are grateful for in life. 

2.         START YOUR DAY WITH POSITIVE SELF-TALK. Positive self-talk provides self-confidence and energy to enjoy each minute of the day.  A great self-talk statement is, “I can and I will today with everything I do!” 

3.         COMMUNICATE WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE.  Positive individuals have a healthy outlook on life even in the midst of challenges like COVID-19. Positive individuals are encouraging, upbeat and think about possibilities, rarely focusing on negativity.  Plus, positive people will bring out the best in you, not increase stress within you! 

4.         GREAT NEWS! YOU HAVE COPING METHODS FROM PAST CRISES.  Think of past personal or societal crises.  Identify what you thought, said, or did to cope and handle those crises and implement those coping skills and tools today. 

5.         LIFE CAN AND WILL CHANGE VERY QUICKLY.  Nothing lasts forever.  This virus is serious BUT THIS TOO WILL PASS!!!  The clouds always blow by and the sun will shine again! 

6.         DON’T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE BIG PICTURE.  Life is a video not a photograph.  This challenge will probably last three to four months BUT it is not our life story nor is it the United States life story.  The United States will rebound just like after 9-11 and you will rebound again as well.   

7.         ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR DREAMS AND FOCUS DAILY ON YOUR GOALS.  This virus challenge is only a temporary setback in life so keep setting powerful goals that are achievable.  Daily take small steps toward your minor and major goals!

8.         MAKE SLEEP A PRIORITY.  Attaining enough sleep helps make you mentally tough.  When you are fully rested you are more focused on solutions and also more energized for the day. 

9.         POSITIVE BOOKS, PODCASTS, MUSIC, ETC.  Read or listen to books that can positively impact your mind and listen to podcasts or music that will lift your emotions not drag them down.  Don’t let any negative be planted in your mind!

10.       FREQUENTLY LAUGH.  Perhaps have a laughter night with comedy TV shows or movies.  Laughter is free and removes stress from daily living. 

11.       BE A CAN-DO, TAKE ACTION PERSON. A crisis often creates emotional paralysis.  Action conquers fear!!!  Look this fear or any fear straight in the face and take action today with relationships and activities.  Always stay in the present and focus on what is within your control. 

12.       DON’T BE A NEWS JUNKIE.  Go on a “news fast” for a period of time because news primarily concentrates on various forms of negativity.  In addition, the news often makes you feel the world is headed downhill fast. 

13.       EXERCISE.  The greatest combatant to stress is exercise.  When you exercise do it outside in the fresh air.  Walking outside allows for social distancing and at the same time makes a huge difference in your emotional well-being. 

14.       TAKE A SHOWER EVERY MORNING.  A morning shower seems to wash away negative emotions and can help jumpstart your day.  A “splash” of cold water to your head at the end of a shower can also provide a positive shock to your mood. 

15.       MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Always remember, life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react.  TODAY YOU CAN AND YOU WILL HAVE POSITIVE REACTIONS TO THIS CHALLENGE!!!

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https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Habits-Marital-Happiness-Relationship/dp/1633571750  

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COPE WITH HOLIDAY STRESS

This is a repeat from December 2018. For Christians, celebrating Christ’s birth can be a time of great joy.  However the holidays can also be a time of stress, sadness, and even depressing at times.  Some people may be experiencing financial difficulties, grieving the loss of a loved one, missing a military member, in the midst of a divorce, feeling lonely, going through family struggles, etc.  Battle the holiday blues through the 12 ways shown below.

1.         Pray daily.  Thank God for His many blessings, pray for those who are ill, pray for the leaders of our nation, pray for family and friends, and just simply have regular prayer for the needs of others. 

2.         Make sleep a priority.  Get plenty of sleep each night in order to have energy for each day.

3.         Eliminate the news.  Most news is negative and can create feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.  Cut out the news for a healthy period of time.

 4.         Always have a lot of light.  Light combats the darkness of depression.  Increase the wattage of lights, open the curtains, etc. but do whatever it takes to be in the light.

5.         Take time to unwind. Being busy much of the time is not healthy.  Find quiet alone time for yourself and with those who mean the most to you.

6.         Respect your Christmas budget.  Overspending can be stressful and can quickly take the joy out of life.

7.         Write a thank you note.  Express written appreciation to someone who influenced you, helped you in the past, been an encouragement, an excellent role model, etc.

8.         Watch a comedy.  The holidays have enough drama so avoid “downer” shows.  Take time to watch a comedy television program or movie, a feel-good Christmas film, etc.

9.         Remember to Exercise and Eat healthy.  The blues can lead to not eating, overeating, and emotional paralysis to do nothing but sit or stay in bed.  Have a well-balanced diet and eat three meals a day.  Exercise for ten minutes three to four times per week. 

10.       Sing Christmas songs out loud.  It is literally true that we are happy when we sing.  So we can actually sing aloud to become happy. 

11.       Associate with positive people.  Like attracts like. If you hang around critical, negative, or complaining individuals, you will sponge up those emotions and develop that attitude.  Hence, you want to associate with encouraging, positive, optimistic, and upbeat people to combat the blues. 

12.       Give meaningful gifts.  The very best gifts are absolutely not financial!  When we give even small gifts to others we lift our mood.  Give significant yet simple gifts like: your time, praise, a smile, a hug, a thankful heart, a listening ear, a zestful or fun spirit, etc. 

Please share on Facebook, Twitter - @Dr_Randy_S, and Instagram.  Please also “SUBSCRIBE” on my website, www.DrRandySchroeder.com,  for future newletters.  See past blog posts under SIMPLE HABITS for Marriage, Parenting, and Life. 

SIMPLE HABITS FOR MARITAL HAPPINESS – Practical Skills and Tools That Build a Strong SATISFYING RELATIONSHIP, released March 2020 on Amazon -  https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Habits-Marital-Happiness-Relationship/dp/1633571750 will make a great gift for married friends, children, grandchildren, parents, and other family members. 

10 Life Principles To Help With Holiday Stress

These 10 Life Principles were first posted in December 2018 but I thought it was important to post them this Christmas season once again.

 1.         Life is NOT fair.  Almost daily something unfair happens to us.  The holidays are no different so expect unfair things to occur during this holiday season.

 2.         Avoid either-or/good-or-bad thinking.  Today is not going to be a good day or a bad day.  Good things will happen and not so good things.  Likewise, this holiday season will have positive occurrences and not so positive happenings.

 3.         Money never brings happiness.  Understand that money, or the lack of it, will not determine your holiday happiness.  Memories and not material things is what you will remember from this Christmas.

 4.         Don’t expect perfection from life.  Perfection is the enemy of good.  Hope for a good Christmas not a perfect one. 

5.         You can’t change family or friends.  This holiday season accept the fact that your family and friends will be the same as always so take them for who they are and go with the flow.

6.         Avoid absolute thinking like “always” and “never.”  Thinking we have “always” done it this way or we “never” did that before during the holiday season will only create stress.  Openness and flexibility will lead to a happier holiday season. 

7.         Don’t have binocular vision.  Avoid focusing on just negative occurrences with the holidays so they don’t become bigger than they really are.  Look at all the positives to have a more realistic outlook on the holidays. 

 8.         Avoid labeling people and experiences.  Others will have differing opinions and behaviors.  Nonetheless, you can still enjoy them and not let that diminish your holiday happiness. Focus on the good qualities of family and friends.

9.         Think percentages in life.  Every day is somewhere between 90%(A-) to 60%(D-).  Daily, this holiday season will also have a range.  Expect this holiday season to average about a C+ to B-.  Anything more is very satisfying, anything less is then not too disappointing. 

10.       Avoid mind-reading.  You can never know what another person is thinking.  Look at the facts not your feelings when assessing how family and friends are enjoying the holidays. 

 This Week:  Begin implementing one or two life principles to help with holiday stress. 

Please share on Facebook, Twitter - @Dr_Randy_S, and Instagram.  Please also “SUBSCRIBE” on my website, www.DrRandySchroeder.com,  for future newletters.  See past blog posts under SIMPLE HABITS for Marriage, Parenting, and Life. 

SIMPLE HABITS FOR MARITAL HAPPINESS – Practical Skills and Tools That Build a Strong SATISFYING RELATIONSHIP, released March 2020 on Amazon -  https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Habits-Marital-Happiness-Relationship/dp/1633571750 will make a great gift for married friends, children, grandchildren, parents, and other family members.