You’ve started home-schooling your kids. You’re working from home off the dining room table. Everyone is in the house, or no one is. You’re limited on where you can go, and how long you can go out for. All of these scenarios are being experienced in households across the UK.
So what do we have to do? Adapt. Adapt to change. Adapt to this new way of life for the time being. Now we know that may sound daunting, which is why we’ve called upon Liggy Webb to provide that much-needed light in the dark.
Liggy is a trusted source on life skills and has developed ten tips we can all use to make the most of change. You know it can be a good thing, rather than a burden. Have a read through, and let us know if they work for you.
1. Embrace change
When you feel that change is being inflicted on you, it can be a natural human reaction to resist it and even feel resentful. The best use of your valuable energy, however, is to accept it, own it and explore ways that you can positively influence your change in circumstances.
2. Be curious
By keeping an open mind and being curious about your changing situation, it’s amazing how much you’ll learn. Asking questions and listening rather than making assumptions will help you to explore fresh perspectives and experiences.
3. Prepare your emotions
Accept the fact that you may be emotional during this time. In the face of uncomfortable change, you may feel unhappy, fearful, insecure and frustrated. Negative emotions will have an impact on your energy levels so it’s important to be kind to yourself.
4. Relax and pace yourself
When change happens and you have no control over it whatsoever, it can create a great deal of tension and sap your energy. Taking time out for relaxation and creating moments of calm by pacing yourself will help you to deal with your situation with a clear head and a sustainable approach.
5. Be positive
Having a positive attitude about change and how you adapt to it is by far the best mind-set to learn. If you enter into a changing situation believing that it’s negative, then you’re more likely to experience negative outcomes. While it’s important to understand some of the risks and pitfalls involved, it’s also important to focus on the possibilities.
6. Keep calm and carry on
This Second World War expression is still apt today. Some people panic when change happens because it destabilises their world. Keeping up with as many familiar routines as you can will be a helpful reminder of how much there is in your life that isn’t changing, and help you to create islands of sanctuary through any disruption.
7. Get support
If you’re struggling and finding it hard to adapt, then ask for help. A supportive family member, friend or work colleague can be the very best tonic and also help you to get another perspective as you learn to adapt.
8. Challenge your perspective
Sometimes the way you view a situation could be narrow because you perceive it through your own filter. It’s important to examine the changing situation from all angles and ask yourself: what else could this mean?
9. Chunk up change
If you’re adapting to a big change, where possible, try to divide it into smaller steps. When you feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the change, concentrate on the step you’ve reached, rather than the bigger picture.
10. Make a plan
Change can be overwhelming, especially if your mind races and you start to imagine all sorts of things that could happen. A good way to regain control and settle your mind is to make a visual plan – prioritise what you need to do and then start by taking one small step at a time.
