Last Updated on January 23, 2023 by Teri Rehkopf
Your life is unpredictable. One minute everything is going smoothly. Next, everything is crashing down around you. Your life is in turmoil with no instructions.
A precarious state prevails in our country and world. The Russian/Ukraine war has everyone feeling anxious. Talk of nuclear war has us all in a panic, so many of us are preparing, reading, and learning survival skills just in case.
In spite of the disaster, there are a number of things you can do to gain a better understanding of how to cope and understand what happened. Here are some tips to help you regain your equilibrium:
1. Putting On The Brakes and Care for Yourself
You can protect yourself by saying ‘no’ when you’re asked to take on more responsibilities when you’re already running in all directions. You have your own life, too. Stop an smell the roses! And, like I say “Life is short. Ride a horse.”
You can easily neglect yourself when you become distracted by a disaster. It is now more important than ever that you eat right and get enough sleep. If you take time for yourself during an upheaval, you will reduce some of the physical strain that can occur. Feeling better physically can also reduce anxiety and stress.
2. Vary Your Day
It’s so easy to get caught up in doing things that are familiar when you’re going through a difficult time. Let’s face it, you want to feel comfortable, so there’s comfort in routine actions such as watching lots of TV, munching mindlessly, or taking naps. Some routines, even good ones, can get to be harmful if they’re all you do. Here, the goal is to mix it up. Allow only a certain amount of time for each task before moving on to the next.
3. Drop It
Give yourself a break. Don’t keep checking your social media or text messages. Take a break. Feedback from others is often going to invite you to obsess over the crisis and not provide any solutions.
4. Be Kind to Others
When you’re feeling down, see if you can be helpful to others around you. This will take your mind off your feelings of frustration, and it will also raise your mood. Just be sure to not overdo it and be aware of your own needs too.
5. Make Your Future A Reality
You can acknowledge the current situation is temporary by picturing where you want to be in the future. Stay focused on this image; you’ll get through this and reach your future goals.
While you can’t solve every turmoil, you still can control your actions and the steps you take afterward. On the other hand, you do still have control over your actions and the steps you take. The practice of these techniques will at least give you a sense of strength and confidence about the path forward. It’s here that you’ll find comfort.
If the future is so uncertain where you live, you might need to determine if you need to bug out. Read more at: You Need to Know When It’s Time to Bug Out