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2021 Not Yet What You’d Hoped For?

So it’s a new year! A lot of us were pretty keen to say goodbye to 2020 and while it’s going to be great to wave farewell to that bizarre year, some of us are feeling 2021 hasn’t exactly gotten off to the rosiest of starts. Things are pretty stressful for everyone right now. With increased covid restrictions in many parts of Australia, its understandable to be feeling anxious, angry, uncertain and annoyed. 

 

These restrictions also meant that many of us didn’t get the holiday break that we wanted and deserved. We may not have been able to see all the family or friends that we were keen to catch up with, or maybe the break wasn’t the restful, relaxing time we were hoping for.  

 

In light of this, we wanted to make sure there was a space for all of us to share our tips for coping and have a look at some other threads that might be helpful. After all, it’s only the 5th day - plenty of time to make 2021 the year of YOU!

 

We had an awesome chat a few months ago with Dr Joe in the Ask Me Almost Anything on Life After Social Isolation where we chatted about managing changes and looking after ourselves. Here’s a few takeaways from that chat:

 

It is really important to acknowledge that this is a really hard time and for us all to be kind to each other - as in - be kind to yourself.

Most things that were steady and safe and fundamental in our lives have been shaken up.

 

Good comes out of every challenge I think. We decide what attitude we want to use to approach covid and everything else. We learn about ourselves. 

 

Things do change all the time even without covid. The present moment however is not uncertain – this moment – right now - and it is in this moment that we plan. We don’t plan IN the future we plan FOR the future. Maybe all we can do is make those plans in the present and hope for the best.

 

Acceptance is everything but not easy. If we can accept the changes, the challenges, it is easier to live with. We will come out of this in time even if it doesn’t feel like it at times. We have to adapt. Humans always adapt and try to be grateful and positive if we can.



We’ve also got a content piece to check out on How To Deal with Disappointment that has some great ideas in it. 

 

What are your tips for navigating uncertainty and looking after yourself in these ever-changing times?

Hannah-RO
Hannah-ROPosted 05-01-2021 05:06 PM

Comments

 
Bre-RO
Bre-ROPosted 18-01-2021 09:47 AM

So important to talk about this! I've been thinking about it quite a lot and trying not put all my eggs in one basket. I think like any years of our lives there's definite ups and downs, but this year that is really highlighted. 

 

What are your tips for navigating uncertainty and looking after yourself in these ever-changing times?

 

Improving routines that are in my control - things as simple as having a nice morning routine, being mindful to not abandon self care. I think something I've learnt is to seize the day, don't wait to do things that make you happy. If it's a hot day I try to drop my plans to get to the ocean, because I know that is the place that makes me feel better. I can't say that beaches won't close this year again, but I can take each day as it comes and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to me. 

 
belski
belskiPosted 08-01-2021 02:10 PM

Thanks for this thread @Hannah-RO!

 

Something I have been doing recently and found super helpful is setting daily goals. To do this I like to write down a major goal - something bigger I want to achieve that day such as submitting a job application. I then set some smaller goals like to vacuum my room and organise dinner with friends.

 

Most importantly I am trying to be kind and compassionate to myself. Listening to what my body needs/wants Heart

 
Tay100
Tay100Posted 07-01-2021 12:09 PM

My tip would be to not place too many expectations on myself- keep my schedule free, only look at news media if I have a distraction to come after it, and do something enjoyable everyday!

 
 
Hannah-RO
Hannah-ROPosted 07-01-2021 04:05 PM

Thats an awesome tip @Tay100 - I love the idea of having a distraction post-news viewing, i think thats V good idea. And @A_Friend I really like what you said about concentrating on what you can control, that is so important!

 
 
 
Tay100
Tay100Posted 08-01-2021 03:31 PM

@Hannah-RO thanks, I just noticed it worked for me and never stopped doing it! You'll have to let us know how you go with your three goals too!

 
A_Friend
A_FriendPosted 06-01-2021 09:45 AM

@Hannah-RO this is such a great thread. Some coping strategies that I have found that helped me has been concentrating on what I can control and trying to make the best of the current circumstances. Another coping strategy is to take for yourself and to do something that distracts you from the stressful times.

 
 
Kaylee-RO
Kaylee-ROPosted 06-01-2021 01:17 PM

@A_Friend Ensuring we focus on making the best of what we have and can control is extremely important when there is so many waves of uncertainty. Taking for yourself and making progress is what we owe ourselves as humans, so living life to the fullest potential is our duty even through difficult times. Did you have any resources or goals you have made to take care of yourself diving into the year?

 
 
 
A_Friend
A_FriendPosted 07-01-2021 09:24 PM

@Kaylee-RO my goals for the new year, are to start getting back to my fitness and taking time to invest time/effort into friends/family. How about you? What are your goals this year? 

 
 
 
 
Kaylee-RO
Kaylee-ROPosted 11-01-2021 11:50 AM

@A_Friend They sound like great and achievable goals! Mine are actually somewhat similar! Fitness is a big part of my life so really wanting to focus on being the healthiest version of me. Plus taking more time to sit and talk/do things with family is so important when you get older! 

Have you made any plans of how you are going to kickstart them off?

 
 
 
 
 
A_Friend
A_FriendPosted 11-01-2021 07:53 PM

@Kaylee-RO Those goals are great and I started my goals by slowing increasing the time i spend working out and changing the type of workout from walking to a more intense workout. How about you?

 
 
 
 
 
Janine-RO
Janine-ROPosted 12-01-2021 03:07 PM

Hey all! I've been loving reading through all of these- it has been such a wild and uncertain time for so many of us, and it's so good to see people sharing what's been helping them. 

 

I also just wanted to share these videos that a spectacular 16 year old human called Jay has done with ReachOut all about feelings about the future, uncertainty, and what they learned from chatting to 3 really diverse people: 

 

What's Next: Being confident when the future is uncertain

"

Hey– I’m Jay, I’m 16, and I’m in my last year of high school. Thinking about my future can be stressful, but I have so many opportunities to be excited about. In the midst of exams and lockdowns, I’ve enjoyed thinking about what’s next for me in life.

That’s why in this series, I’ve been talking to people who have been down this road before. In this episode I talked to Jason Ball– when he was a teenager, he had no idea what was in store for him in life, and he had no idea how people around him would feel about him when he came out." 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Janine-RO
Janine-ROPosted 12-01-2021 03:12 PM

What's next: sticking up for yourself

 

We talked to Drisana Levitzke-Gray about networking, what it’s like being treated unfairly, and being confident in yourself anyway.

 

 
 
 
 
 
Janine-RO
Janine-ROPosted 12-01-2021 03:15 PM

What's next: when you need to take some twists and turns in life

 

We talked to Corey Tutt about finding yourself, recovering from a personal tragedy, and why it’s so important to ask questions in life.

 

 

Would love to hear what you think if you check these out!

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