Resilience includes our ability to bounce back from adversity and come back stronger, and while that may not come effortlessly, it is achievable. Here are five tips to help you get started:

  1. Accept change. We all got a good dose of change in 2020! Whether we were working from home, virtual learning, or staying indoors for days at a time, we had to adapt to something completely new. Managing your expectations and allowing for flexibility are great places to start, so if things don’t happen as planned, you can continue to adapt.
  2. Keep things in perspective. This takes practice, but a great place to begin is thinking about and writing down what you’re grateful for. When you focus on the positives around you, the negatives don’t feel as overwhelming. How you organize your thoughts matters and realizing that some things are out of your control can free you from harmful thought patterns. It helps to think about the big picture. You can’t always change what happens, but you can control how you react to it.
  3. Take care of yourself. We can’t emphasize self-care enough, as it really can help bring you to a more positive and hopeful mindset. Doing nice things for yourself or planning activities you enjoy can promote a better mood, and it’s a great excuse to do something enjoyable for yourself if you’ve been feeling down. Try going for a brisk walk, watching a funny movie, or crafting – anything that’s going to make you feel more like you.
  4. Prioritize relationships. Connecting with other people and cultivating relationships are innately human activities; we are social by nature. Lean on your social network for support if you need it. You are not alone in feeling “2020 fatigue,” and investing time in your relationships will help foster a sense of solidarity. Your friends and family may need some support from you as well, so be sure to offer them help too.
  5. Seek help. Last year was far from the norm, and if you’re finding it hard to adjust, know that help is available. Your EAP Assist counsellor as well as other support services can help you find some strategies for staying afloat and moving forward. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone, and your well-being is the top priority.

Try our Resilience Training Program: https://eapassist.com.au/resilience-training/