Tips on How To Stay Positive in the New Year
TIPS ON HOW TO STAY POSITIVE IN THE NEW YEAR
In these challenging times, it may feel like the edge of anxiety is winning over the pursuit of dreams with an uncertain economy, tough job markets, falling house prices, rising living costs, and a host of other maladies that bombast our sojourns through daily life. So much is currently changing in our living and social situations that it may seem like nothing is permanent or dependable anymore. Indeed, the very act of change is enough to send many people over the edge of their comfort zones. Change can be positive, and challenges may bring forth growth, but that is usually decided by the individual.
Take a few moments to focus on the issues, people, or events that are causing you the most angst. Whether you feel positive or apprehensive about your life, the economy, or current events, here are a few helpful approaches to living that may aid in developing a more optimistic attitude for a new year.
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Focus on the Positive: Since people are surrounded daily with negative news about the economy, jobs, health care reform, terrorism, wars, etc., it is even more important than ever before to maintain a positive outlook and not be dragged into a negative state of being. Research has shown that thinking positive thoughts releases neuro-chemicals in the brain that cause a pleasure response. If you find that the majority of your thoughts are negative, take the time to write down three or four things a day that were positive, forward moving, and that made you feel good. Review these written thoughts throughout the month or year.
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Let Go of the Issues/People Who Bring Negativity into Your Life. Much has been written about toxic relationships and the negative psychic and physical effects that are generated in a person’s body and mind from such relationships. Indeed, the stress, loss of self-esteem, anxiety, and depression that can culminate from negative and debilitating personal experiences may cause severe physical and mental illnesses. It is a much healthier alternative to let go of debilitating thoughts, such as ruminating over lost investments, and move on to positively developing a new path, for example in securing your financial future. While you may not be able to move away from all the people or situations that cause you stress, remember the friends and family members with whom you feel nurtured, and take more time to talk to or be with them.
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Practice Relaxation Techniques: Many of us have stressful jobs, tight schedules, multiple duties, or we may be working a couple of jobs to make ends meet. No matter what is on your schedule, you can benefit from practicing several different approaches to relaxation. Some of the most researched and practiced relaxation approaches include meditation, deep breathing techniques, taking a “time out”, biofeedback, and napping. There is a point at which stress tips your biological scale to being unbeneficial and unproductive. Any or all of these relaxation techniques can help you to de-stress, feel more positive, and regain personal control of your emotions and health.
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Prioritize Sleep. The neuro-chemical serotonin is released when you have at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep. In addition, your dream sequences give you the most mental stability and release from stress after 7 to 8 hours of sleeping time. Therefore, when you are short on sleep, you are losing valuable time and the opportunity to refresh and restore your mental capacities. Sleep deprivation can bring on mental instability, loss of memory, signs of depression from a lack of serotonin, and weight gain. Try to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep nightly to feel your positive best.
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Exercise Regularly: Exercising releases endorphins into your brain and body, and these endorphins are the same brain chemicals you feel when you feel love. Regular exercise can make you feel better about yourself, have long reaching health benefits, and act as a de-stressor. Make sure that you choose forms of exercise that are fun for you, and that you exercise at least three times a week for the best results. Even 15 minutes of daily exercise has been shown to be beneficial to the human body and mind. If you can’t do your favorite sport, such as snowboarding in the summer, try a new sport or exercise regime to fill in the time between sports seasons.
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Use Cognitive Restructuring: In psychology, cognitive restructuring means looking at the same thought from a different angle. All of us have “mental chatter” in our minds, and sometimes these thoughts ruminate and repeat numerous times throughout our daily life causing us stress and mental exhaustion if the thoughts are negative in nature. Only you can change the thoughts in your mind, and only you can change the focus to which you give mental time and attention. You are in control of how you view any given situation, and the people who take the worst of times and think they are opportunities are practicing positive cognitive restructuring and demonstrating resiliency. For example, your car may have died, and you think this is a disastrous situation that will cost you money, waste your time in finding a new car, and be a transportation pain. On the contrary, you can think that the death of the car provides you with the opportunity to get a new car that will be safer, you can get a car that better suits your current needs and one that will save money on gas. What seemed like a catastrophe can be viewed as a positive outcome by using cognitive restructuring.
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Be Grateful: No matter what happened to you over the past year, things could be worse and things could be better. Although it is sometimes difficult to feel gratitude during difficult and challenging times, being thankful can give your life optimism, courage, and a positive outlook. Every day take an inventory of what is going well in your life, of all the people you love and those who love you, and of the things you have done or achieved, no matter how small, that have been forward moving and good. You will be amazed at how these changes in attitude can bring internal happiness and a fresh, positive perspective.
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Volunteer With Others Less Fortunate Than You. Whether you are volunteering at a soup kitchen or working with stroke victims on crossword puzzles, there is always someone who is less fortunate than you. Helping others is a valuable way to see your unique areas of strengths, feel needed and useful, and give positive priorities to your life. The very act of helping others and doing altruistic service can make you feel useful and vibrant and those whom you help will have their lives and burdens lightened by your selfless acts of kindness.
Laugh More: The cliché that laughter is the best medicine has roots in science. Laughter has been shown to increase T-cell antibodies that boost the immune system and fight off infections. Humor has also been shown to increase pain tolerance and decrease stress levels. Seen another way, laughter and sadness cannot occupy the same mental space. The stress hormone cortisol drops substantially in response to laughter, and good physical health is also correlated with increases in laughter and humor. Using humor to deal with stressful situations relieves negative thoughts and feelings and gives the person a new, positive perspective on the troubling issue or situation.
