The Summer months usually include a lot of social events such as weddings and graduations, and it’s also a time where many people transition into new career opportunities. These events bring excitement and eagerness to see what lies ahead in the future. But this Summer is different.
Our routines are on hold and we still don’t know what ‘the new normal’ looks like. Will you return to work or continue to work from home? We are currently in a strange transition period, where we wonder what is coming next or how long it will be before all of this is over and we can proceed with our lives.
This transition period consists of uncertainty and can leave us feeling bewildered and at a loss of control of our lives. Because this situation can cause detrimental stress, Minetum believes we should try to approach this time differently. A transition can be a positive thing that allows us to focus on self-growth and change. If we take this time to reflect on ourselves and our lives, this transition period can turn out to be rewarding instead of stressful.
If you need help overcoming your anxiety about the future, Minetum offers Virtual Coaching!
Minetum believes that by following these steps, you can enter your post-pandemic life with less anxiety and more clarity.
Stop overthinking
As humans we tend to think intensely when we are confronted with uncertainty – you might even call it overthinking. We often assume that if we can think about and analyze the roots of uncertainty, that we’ll be able to fix the problem. This assumption is wrong, as overanalyzing makes the situation even worse.
In transition periods, due to the increase of uncertainty and stress our brain sends us into fight or flight mode. We try to either battle the feelings by overanalyzing the situation, or we try to completely escape the anxiety. The issue here is that the pandemic is beyond anyone’s control, so trying to problem-solve can worsen the situation.
Thinking of an escape of this crisis can unfortunately lead to excessive worry, which leads us to become more stressed and anxious, and less prepared for our post-pandemic lives.
The best thing you can do is to stop the overthinking. Try to become comfortable with just experiencing and processing your emotions, and accept that you don’t have to find an answer or solution to your concerns right now. This will help you feel more calm and focused on your life as it is right now.
Stay connected
We tend to become self-centered when we experience anxiety and stress, as we fail to see other peoples’ distress. We withdraw ourselves and focus on our problems, when we should actually reach out to people to stay connected with them.
To get through this transition time, you should reach out to someone else in your life that might be struggling. This can help you break the pattern, as you begin to see things from someone else’s point of view. This will make you feel better, as you remove the focus from yourself and help somebody else by staying in touch and listening to them.
Focus of self-discovery
This time is an excellent opportunity to get to know yourself better. By learning how your mind works, you can start feeling less anxious and even more productive. Start this process by asking yourself questions about your habits and feelings. When are you the most focused during the day, when do you start feeling anxious, etc. When you become aware of these patterns, you can plan accordingly.
Focus on your awareness in the presence and aim to be more present with the people around you. This will help you feel grounded and more relaxed, as you learn to keep your focus and not overthink.
We don’t have any answers about the post-pandemic life yet, but by following these steps you can overcome the stress during this transition period. This will make you a more self-aware version of yourself ready to take on the future, no matter what it looks like.
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