Practice Resilience in the New Year
Strategies to Promote Optimism and Positive Thinking
We have now officially closed the door on 2020, a difficult year for our seniors, their families, caregivers, nursing care professionals, and senior care staff alike. While there is a bright light ahead that signals the storm is nearly over, we should not lose sight of the lessons of the past year. In particular, we must continue to practice resilience. If we are capable of resilience, we can better handle the next challenge or difficult situation that arises. These strategies can be used not only by nursing and health care professionals but anyone who is looking to grow their personal resilience in the new year.
Counter negative thoughts.
It is difficult to take a “glass half full” approach to every situation, however, we can get better at doing so by practicing a technique known as cognitive restructuring. When our thought patterns are self-defeating, we can try to reframe our thinking and redirect negative thoughts. Here is one idea to start with: When you have a negative thought, ask yourself if you are assuming the worst possible outcome of the situation. Imagine if the situation resolved positively. Acknowledge that there are multiple possible outcomes.
Remember your own needs.
Self care is so important, even when our schedules are full and our days are hectic. Take the time you need to exercise, rest, breathe, and serve your own personal needs. Above all, prioritize your sleep. You cannot practice resilience with a half-empty tank. You will need to reserve your energy, and that means getting your sleep.
Practice positive self-talk.
Even on days when you feel like nothing is going your way, be kind to yourself. How you talk to yourself matters. Be mindful about talking to yourself in a positive way. On a challenging day, tell yourself you did the best that you could, and you will try again tomorrow.
We hope this gives you a good starting point for building your resilience in 2021. If we can offer any guidance or support, please do not hesitate to reach out.