Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, failures and adverse circumstances—things we’ve all experienced more than usual these past six months. Resilience is what will separate success and struggle. Here are four ways you can start building it.
- Recognize the opportunity. Just as we can’t build physical muscle without resistance, nor can we build the mental muscle of resilience without adverse circumstances. The COVID-19 crisis presents an opportunity for growth. Recognize the opportunity you have, right where you are today, to become a more resilient individual.
- Stay networked. When we’re numb or stressed with the ever-changing demands of pandemic life, it can be easy to retreat or withdraw. But now is the time to stay connected. Both in your personal life and professionally, keep relationships alive through honest and regular communication, where you seek to listen as well as share. Active listening can also give you a fresh perspective on your own challenges. There’s always someone who’s got it tougher.
- Feed yourself on healthy content. ‘You are what you eat’—and this holds true for more than the food we put in our bodies. What you feed your mind with will determine your mind's output. If you’re overwhelmed with negative thoughts, trace them back to the content you’re consuming. It might be time to make some changes, like switching up some of your social media or news sites for something more positive.
- Focus, plan—and take action. Focus directs our undivided attention to the problem at hand. The potential solutions we then create are our plan, leading toward action to address the problem. These are the ingredients of positive change in any area of life—including pandemic fatigue. When focusing, planning and taking action become the default response to any challenge life throws at you, you’ve become a more resilient individual.
As an employer, studies suggest that most employees are interested in mental health and emotional health support to varying degrees, based on demographics. Become familiar with what types of concerns weight on the mind of your employees and address them with various well-being support options, from support groups or organized times to check-in, to mental health benefits.
Resilience isn’t built overnight, but with persistence as we all recover from this world health crisis, we can all focus on growing in our ability to bounce back stronger than ever.
For article in its entirety, go here.