We all intend to keep positive and frequently make New Year's resolutions to do. Like so many other resolutions, we often have no specific idea how to do what we resolve and no plan as well. Often, this lack of resolve and plan result in feelings of frustration, tension, stress, and disappointment. We berate and criticize ourselves. But it does not have to be this way. We discuss the importance of mindset and other issues in reducing your feelings of stress in our book (I Can’t Take It Anymore; How to Manage Stress so It Doesn’t Manage You; Paul G. Longobardi, Ph.D.,and Janice B. Longobardi, R.N., B.S.N., P.H.N.), available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056. For more information about the authors, book, and other information on stress, please visit our website at www.manageyourhealthandstress.com. However, for now, to help you maintain your most positive mindset in this new year, see below for five tips which will help you when you implement them.
1. Be grateful for what you do have. Even when you are going through challenges, there are many things for which you can be grateful. Take several minutes at the start and end of each day to recognize those things.
2. Understand and accept that you will have challenges, everyone does. Treat the challenge as specific (not general), unstable (doesn’t always happen) and external (not internal and a reflection of your deficiencies). You will blame yourself far less often.
3. Surround yourself with positive people. The people you have around you have a big impact on you in terms of how you see yourself, how successful you are, and how you spend your time. If all you hear is negativity that is what you will come to think. Make a conscious effort to be around more positive people.
4. Have a clear plan for your day and week. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t know what route to take to Rome, any one will do but you won’t get there”. The same is true for your life. If you know what you want to accomplish, you will focus more on those goals. Daily plans lead to weekly goals and you will accomplish more.
5. Have an exercise plan. It is well known that regular exercise contributes to mental health as well as physical health. It combats depression and improves your mood. Build this activity into your daily routine, preferably in the morning.
So, I suggest you start by implementing one tip per week over the next five weeks and then incorporate them into your daily routine. Good luck. Remember, change your thoughts, change your results.
Dr. Paul Longobardi
For information on these and related topics, please visit my website at www.successandmindset.com