With so much going on around us, throughout the world right now, it can be really easy to shift into a survival mode and then to sit there for some time – simply because we don’t understand how to change things.
Signs that you may be in survival mode include:
- Everything has a sense of urgency about it – all the time
- Your normal is to cancel and reschedule meetings and phone calls – even those times you get together with friends
- It feels to you like everyone is in crisis mode – because it rubs off on your team and your family
- You are overwhelmed, lacking in sleep with an irregular heartbeat and erratic breathing pattern
- You know that your brain is fuzzy and even though you tell yourself you need to calm down – it is not working. Nothing happens
- There is little to no JOY in your life which means you are starting from rock bottom when it comes to planning an awesome day
- Everyone you know seems to have your Reactive Button on speed-dial and they have you bouncing from one emotionally draining reaction to the next
- Everything, especially those things you are overwhelmed with or have done little work on, becomes way, way too important
- Your standard of work slips with everything now delivered as “Good Enough” rather than high quality
- Your body aches – headaches, tiredness, sore joints and low energy
Survival mode is not a great place to be stuck because it is not good for your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health. Neither is it good for your financial health! And…………….besides that you are not being the best version of you. In fact, you are disrespecting yourself.
For many of us the impact of Covid is hitting hard right now. Yep!! Right now, which seems weird after more than 12 months of the whole world being impacted in some way. We are feeling the impact more because for too long now we have been in survival mode and have had enough of it especially the feeling that things are out of our control.
Today I have some practical tips which will enable you to start building a daily framework of positive behaviours in your life, kick starting your journey out of survival and into a new way of being alive.
Before I start, I want you to recognise this one fact:
You can change course and regain control over your life.
Here are 10 Practical Tips for you:
- Acknowledge that you are in survival mode, that this is not where you want to be and that it is not sustainable for you in any way, shape or form
- Stop complaining about your circumstances. Why? Because your complaining encourages others to complain, keeping everyone in a negative headspace. Instead, be deliberate about taking action and staying positive.
- Take care of yourself by making time to recharge your batteries. Keep your own emotional tank full by doing something [no matter how small] every single day that makes you happy. It is easier to see your way clear of survival mode when you have a positive outlook.
- Let your pent-up emotions out. This could mean punching a pillow while you scream silently or having a good cry or doing a really tough gym session including time on the punching bag or [this is my favourite] dancing around your lounge room singing loudly, and out of tune, to your favourite rock songs. Your goal here is to shift your energy so that you begin to relax.
- Communicate kindly with yourself. Manage your self-talk, celebrating small wins and talking yourself up rather than putting yourself down. Don’t be too hard on yourself as you let go of old habits and build new ones that serve you better.
- Simplify your life by getting back to the fundamentals. Those essential things that need to be done to keep things moving. Learn to say no and mean NO.
- Stay curious – ask questions and observe your own behaviour and the behaviours of others. What are the lessons here? Apply the KISS principle to your behaviours – Keep doing, Improve on, Stop doing, Start doing – and become more discerning about those you spend time with.
- Shift your fear – recognise that in order to be the driver of your life you will need to respond to situations rather than react. While you may not be able to control the situation, you CAN control your feelings and your response to the situation. Make the decision to release your fear and do the things you want to do.
- Choose what your day will look like. First choice is your Attitude. No one else determines this but you. Second choice is scheduling your day so that you do get things done, you do have some fun, you have time with loved ones, and you have time for you to recharge. Start with a simple plan so that you don’t get overwhelmed.
- Breathe. Breathe deep and fill your lungs. Change occurs when you become who you authentically are, not when you try to be what you’re not. Breathe again.
Check out this simple, impactful message from me which you can use as a reminder – every single day. >>>Your Choice