You Won’t Make It on Coffee Alone…10 Must-Have Mindset Hacks for Challenging Times
There’s no doubt that the current situation of the world is causing many of us to stop and ask ourselves “is this really happening?” Can we really shelter ourselves indoors another day?
Coffee will get you only so far. So…to keep yourself sane both now AND when the world returns back to “normal… try these mindset hacks to shift out of negative mindset you may be in.
Hack #1: Move your body
There’s no right or wrong way here. Run in place, do some yoga or stretching, pound it out on the treadmill or spin bike, do jumping jacks or burpees…just get moving. Physical activity releases endorphins, the hormone that reduces stress and anxiety.
Do what you have to do to get those endorphins flowing.
- Tap into free resources available… Fitness experts and gyms have been utilizing social media networks like YouTube and Facebook to reach out to others through this challenging time.
- If you live somewhere that you’re able to get outside, take a walk in the fresh air in a place where you can be at least 6 feet from others.
Use this mindset hack to prepare for physical goals you’ve always to achieve.
Have you wanted to train for a half marathon but never felt you had the time to properly train? Have you wanted to master an inversion pose in your yoga practice but had trouble dedicating yourself to it? Now’s the time.
Hack #2: Get Connected
Perhaps you felt isolated even before the Coronavirus pandemic occurred. For people who have consistently struggled with feelings of loneliness, being stuck in bad relationships or self-sabotaging behaviors, the shelter-in-place situation feels even bleaker. It’s an exaggeration of how lonely and desolate we were feeling before.
The COVID-19 shelter-in-place will pass…but will our inability to cope? Will we push past the habits of self-destruction when we’re able to return to our regular lives? What can we do to make the best of the struggles of loneliness and isolation so that we are better versions of ourselves when this is all said and done?
Use this time to reconnect with yourself through self-reflection (see Hack #3). Call, Facetime or Video Chat with old friends and family members the good old-fashioned way before texting took over.
Schedule virtual coffee dates with people you miss seeing regularly. We may be practicing social distancing but if you get creative, you’ll find it’s easy to connect with others.
Hack #3: Dig Deep to Focus
Blasting through each day without pausing is how we end up exhausted, stuck in jobs and relationships that don’t give us joy or fulfillment, and feeling empty inside.
What better way to use this interlude than to take a step back and ponder our choices, behaviors, things that bring us the most happiness, and the baggage we need to let go of.
Self-reflection forces us to take responsibility for our actions and creates space for self-awareness.
So grab a cup of coffee, a pen and paper, and some quiet space. It’s about to get deep. Ask yourself some of the following questions…
- What’s the big picture? What does my life look like when I’m the most joyful, spirited, satisfied? If you get stuck, consider making a vision board. (Aren’t familiar with vision boards, check out Pinterest to get some amazing ideas.)
- Who am I at the core?
Exploring what your foundational values and beliefs aren’t always easy. Most of us have never taken a moment to determine what’s within our hearts, who we are and what is really most important to us.
Write down ten values that we feel are the most important is thought-provoking. Analyzing if the way you’re living your life stands up to your core values and beliefs can help declutter your mind and give clarity to what is meaningful to you.
- What are my talents and strengths? Am I utilizing those skills enough
What are you good at? Not what you do at work effectively, but what are you really good at that may have nothing at all to do with your career choice. Make a list of your strengths and talents…how does your 40-hour a week gig match up? This might be the perfect time to explore new career transitions.
- What are my blind spots?
All of us have areas in our lives where we are self-deceptive. Choosing to not see something gives us the impression that it’s not there. Maybe you assure yourself that your strained relationship is normal. Or that everyone feels this way about certain aspects of their lives, so it’s okay. Regardless of what it is, it’s probable that there’s something in your life that you’re not fully seeing, feeling, or handling.
- What things are the most important to you in your life?
Think about the things that give you balance in life. This may be who you surround yourself with, what gives you the most peace spiritually, what you do physically that makes you feel the most healthy… Do this by looking at each aspect of your life: professionally, socially, internally, and physically.
Hack #4: Find 1 habit to break
Focus on the top one habit that you feel gets in your way from your personal goals whether that’s in love, relationship, or career, health, whatever the category. Stick to one habit that you want to break.
What triggers your habit? What can you do as a substitution when you feel like giving in to the habit? Create a mantra to remind yourself that you can do this. Post it all over your house if you need to.
Hack #5: Acknowledge 1 limiting belief
We all believe things about ourselves based on past experiences, things we’ve told ourselves, or things others have told us.
But just because we believe them does not mean they’re factual.
Limiting beliefs wreak havoc on your sense of self and put barriers between us and our goals. They repeatedly affect our relationships. Check out Why your limiting believes may be destroying your love life for more in-depth look at limiting beliefs.
If you’re asking, what is a limiting belief? An example would be if you’ve been talking about going back for a Master’s degree but quickly talk yourself out of it because you’re “not smart enough”. That’s believing in a self-limitation that impedes personal growth. Acknowledgment is the first step to empowerment.
Hack #6: Start that Gratitude Journal
Recognizing the good in your life is a quick way to shift your mood and alter the lens you’re viewing the world with.
In the midst of something like a pandemic, it’s even more critical to look for the positives in the world. It’s too easy to focus on the negatives, which feeds into the feelings of fear, panic, and loneliness.
Consider all the people out there offering free services to help other humans out…the fitness studios offering free workout classes, the education apps giving free codes out to all the parents who have now become homeschool teachers…spinning how you perceive things will make seeing the positive easier.
Focus on the small daily wins as well as the big wins. Thinking about even the simple luxuries that we have, like running water, can deviate your mindset from feeling hopeless to hopeful.
Hack #7: Declutter & Organize Your Home
The action of decluttering and organizing your physical space can make us feel like we’re actually decluttering our minds. Reducing disorder in our home can have amazing anti-stress benefits on our minds and bodies. We tend to feel more control, more peace, and even less burnt out when our space is orderly and decluttered.
Note: You may want to start with one room at a time. Too much declutter too soon can be overwhelming and may create internal chaos.
Hack 8: Cultivate Kindness
Showing yourself kindness and grace positively impacts your mind, body, and spirit. When you make a mistake, rather than being critical (“I’m stupid”, “What’s wrong with me?”)… remind yourself it’s okay and mistakes give you the ability to grow.
Positive self-talk is the ultimate way to show ourselves kindness and grace.
Allowing time for self-care is another essential way of being kind to yourself. Internally recognize that you deserve the 30 minutes for a work-out or a relaxing bubble bath—without feelings of guilt.
Cultivate kindness with others as well.
This is often easier than doing so with ourselves. But it can still be difficult to show grace when someone doesn’t live up to our expectations.
Hack #9: Notice What Words You Use
How often do you say “I should…” or “I can’t…”?
Examining your internal dialogue is fundamental in unlocking the tools needed to stop being your own worst enemy. Using phrases like,
- “I should have done (this) instead of (this)…”
- “I can’t (achieve this)”…are clear examples of self-sabotage.
You’ve heard the phrase “fake it till you make it”, right? Well, self-talk is like that to a point. Say positive phrases repeatedly until it’s all you know how to do.
Most importantly, grant yourself the right to fail.. lookout for a blog post in the future about that.
Hack #10: Be Mindful During Simple Tasks
Being mindful encourages being present in the moment. Life can feel turbulent when our focus is always on the next things that need to get done. Taking time to complete one task at a time focuses your attention, allows for more clarity, and enhances creativity.
For example, are you a coffee drinker? Do you thoughtlessly start the coffee maker each morning without a thought to the process? It may sound silly but starting the day by grinding your own beans or brewing in a pour-over coffee maker gives a sense of purpose. It will take longer but the process allows the time to reflect and feel gratitude…and the cup of coffee will be so good, you’ll be asking yourself why you haven’t been doing this all along.
To use this mind hack, tune into how you breathe, how your senses affect your thoughts and the sensations of your body during certain moments. Journal your observations.
Why These Mind Hacks are So Important…
These mindset hacks will go far in digging deep internally and discovering what it is you truly want out of love, work, and overall life. They will help you to be productive when you might want to just crawl into a ball on the couch.
These hacks will encourage you to see the everyday joys that will help you get through this.
I’m Here to Help You Navigate Challenging Times
You may find out that there are roadblocks in your way that you’ve been maneuvering around blindly. As a Certified Professional Mindset Coach, I work with women and men who are in a cycle of self-sabotage in their life and feel stuck.
I’ve developed a step-by-step process to help you navigate the rough patches and uncover where you are getting in your own way.
If you find yourself struggling with inner reflection or are having trouble getting over certain humps, I’m here to help! Sign up for your free consultation
