How You Can Help Build Resilience
It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The demands of our jobs, school schedules, social lives, family commitments – all can all pile on at times. And when we are feeling overwhelmed or under pressure from one responsibility or another, our first instinct is often to reach for a quick fix that will make us feel better – coffee, chocolate cake, wine. But what if there were simpler ways to build resilience? This blog post will tell you how to help others (or yourself) build resilience!
What is resilience?
Resilience is our ability to cope with challenges in life. It’s that simple, but it isn’t easy when we feel overwhelmed or under pressure from one responsibility.
Why is being resilient important?
Resilience helps us to find the inner strength to cope with life’s challenges. It builds our capacity for coping, which means that we can handle more stress before reaching breaking point. It is easier to bounce back from setbacks and recover quickly after periods of intense pressure or strain when we are resilient. Resilient people tend to be happier in their lives because they have a sense of mastery rather than helplessness over difficulties they encounter daily. So resilience matters – it impacts how you feel about your ability to deal with difficult situations!
Why is building resilience hard nowadays?
The ability to cope is essential in everyday life, and we all have the capacity for resilience. But it can be difficult, especially when our lives are so hectic and stressful! We may not even realize that what we require to build psychological strength isn’t a quick fix but something longer-lasting – like building habits of resilience each day. And daily steps you take will add up over time, helping us become more resilient than ever before!
Resilience doesn’t just happen by accident. It’s built slowly through regular practice and repeated use of coping strategies during times of stress or pressure. So how do we make sure we keep on top of these practices?
Here are nine tailor-made tips on helping others (or yourself) become resilient!
Make a list of the people you’re connecting with today
Make a list of the person you’re connecting with today before doing anything else! Do this right now and spend two minutes writing down their name. It will help you to remember to connect with them during your day. Once you have made your list, break it into work colleagues, family members, friends, etc.
Create opportunities for connection
Create opportunities for connection in your schedule – make sure you block out time to connect with the essential people in your life! It could be a quick phone call, meeting up at lunchtime or scheduling coffee dates into your calendar. If it makes sense, plan to meet every day this week and discuss their feelings about their plans etc.
Ask others how they are feeling and what they need from you
Please don’t assume you know what is going on in their lives or how they are feeling. Ask them! It will help build a sense of connection and empathy between you, which can only be positive for your mental health and wellbeing. When we feel connected with others, it helps us to cope better with stressful situations.
Practice self-compassion
Be kind to yourself by practicing self-compassion! It means that you would treat a loved one with the same kindness, care and compassion as you do for yourself. Remind yourself of your positive qualities – are they there? Are you having difficulties right now?
Take care of your physical health.
Eat healthy food, exercise regularly, get enough sleep etc. Take care of your physical health by eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep. All three are fundamental to our wellbeing – if we neglect one or more, it will impact how we feel today! A great tip is to take a day off from exercise every week.
Find creative outlets that help distract from negative thoughts (e.g., painting)
Seek support when you need it – this could be from a friend or family member, your doctor or a professional therapist. There is no shame in asking for help! We all have difficult times and moments where we feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges. But some creative activities can remove our focus from negative thoughts and refocus our attention onto a positive outlet, such as art. Here are some great ways to find an outlet that will help distract you from those challenging moments!
Spend time in nature
Spend time in nature – research suggests that spending time outside can increase feelings of awe and wonder. It could be on a walk or just sitting by yourself on the grass with your thoughts! Spending time outside has been proven to have numerous mental health benefits, including boosting our moods. Give it a try today!
Connect with other people who have experienced trauma or adversity
Connecting with people having trauma or adversity helps to feel more understood and supported. It is a great way to begin the process of processing our own experiences. It creates a strong sense of being resilient.
Get professional support if needed.
To build resilience, start by practicing self-care, but if you are having difficulties coping or finding your way out of trauma symptoms, seek professional support. You can’t do this on your own!
The tips we shared in this blog post are just a few ways to build up your resilience. Let me know if any of these ideas resonate with you and how they have helped! It’s time to stop reaching for the quick fix that makes us feel better temporarily but doesn’t help us be at our best or reach our potential long-term. What do you think? Do you want more information about building your resilience through simple steps like exercising, practicing gratitude, taking care of yourself emotionally and physically – let me know!
