Do you feel like it’s time to emerge and start living life normally again, getting back to your projects, hobbies, or work activities that you desire to enjoy again? And do you feel a little stressed about how to get back in the game with confidence? You are not alone! I felt a bit of this myself. But I’m finding my momentum and would love to share some encouragement. Use these three tips to help you make a confident comeback as you find your new normal with a sense of renewed motivation, clarity, and lack of stress.
A year ago at this time, we were still trying to navigate the uncertainty of the COVID- 19 pandemic. We had just survived what we hoped would be the worst, but we had no idea at that point that things would continue for so long. We had experienced, for the first time, an unprecedented canceling of events, plans, and just life in general. Weddings, proms, graduations, funerals…each marked another layer of loss and letting go of things we had religiously held so dear.
We were trying to find our rhythm and routine as we sheltered and had some pretty focused family time. I don’t know what your home was like at that time, but I know I was feeling pretty overwhelmed. We had a high school graduate whose senior year had been abruptly ended, three teens feeling out of sync with missing contact with friends and athletic competitions, five kids trying to recover from online homeschool (okay, add a frazzled mom to that too!), and three young elementary students that quite simply had cabin fever. It was tough.
Then we progressed to fall and the upcoming school year. We had no idea what all the COVID precautions and restrictions might look like or how it might impact our kids, sporting events, classroom success, or friendships. And of course, through this all, we were still uncertain how the virus itself might hit our families. But we journeyed on and learned in the process. We experienced life behind masks, with fewer contacts, and the absence of hugs like we once enjoyed.
This time didn’t leave us without losses, and for some that may have even included family members, financial stability, and personal health. But through it all, we learned that we could persevere, endure, and grow. So as you stand up, dust yourself off, and prepare to journey on, I’d like to give you three useful tips in finding a new normal that can shine with confidence.
1. Find Your Focus
It can feel a lot like we were dropped in a time warp or that the world kind of stopped turning. You may feel like you lost steam, motivation, or direction. That’s ok. You can find that same focus that once drove you again. In fact, the focus you have now might be even more intentional and seasoned with new ideas and renewed passion of purpose. So ask yourself some thought-provoking questions to get started:
- In what ways do I want to give and serve?
- How do I want to show up and make a difference?
- What is my passion or sense of purpose?
- In what ways have I grown over the last year and how can this make me more effective?
2. Push Through the Problems
It won’t be easy picking up things that have sat dormant or been paused or slowed for an extended period of time. There may be challenges in undoing some of the disorganization and mess that this long break from what we knew as normal may have brought about. And perhaps you’ve lost a little of your ease in performing those simple tasks that once came like impulse. That’s ok.
Keep trying, and when you begin to feel the stress or struggle, remind yourself that after what you’ve just come through…You’ve got this! You might notice a bit of increased anxiety as you start pushing to make progress, but that’s to be expected. And don’t fall into the common trap of waiting until you can do it perfectly. It is better to take a step, get moving and adjust your methods than to sit idle because you might not do it right. It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress! So choose that mental dialogue that keeps you moving instead of being discouraged, undisciplined, and unmotivated.
“Stand guard at the door of your mind.”
Jim Rohn
3. Schedule for Success
The world we lived in over the last year and a half was quite different than what we knew prior. In many ways, it became unscheduled, unpredictable, and less involved. In some ways, this may have been good. We learned how much could truly be done from home, never stepping foot outside our home or even our pj’s! But we also learned to do things with less effort associated. We could attend zoom meetings in our jammies and not even be discovered! LOL! But this lack of routine and structure could also contribute to the lack of motivation. So, set aside a certain amount of time or block of time each day that you are going to be purposeful in getting things going again. Whether you are picking up that hobby again, re-establishing your business, getting more involved with service projects or activities, or even just some healthy self-care—schedule that time to allow for your success. You might start with small stretches of time and as you get excited and motivated you will likely feel the desire to do even more. That’s great! Think about ways to structure your day to establish healthy habits. How can you set aside time for those things that make you feel better and more productive? Maybe you need a routine wake-up time, exercise time, or devotion time. Go for it! Imagining a healthy routine and carrying that out will be a great step toward success!
Trust me! I understand that getting started again can feel like climbing a mountain. It may feel like there’s a great journey ahead and little certainty along the way. Instead of focusing on all that lies ahead, be reminded of all that you just survived. This alone can be a great motivator as you get back out there and establish your new normal. And just think—your new normal could far exceed what you thought was good before!
Now head on out there! Find that new normal and enjoy that extra dose of motivation, clarity in your purpose, and lack of stress weighing you down! You’ve got this! And I’m cheering you on! Feel free to share in the comments what you will be dusting off and getting back to! I’d love to hear how you are making your comeback!
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in
the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
Speaking of getting going…you may have noticed a little facelift for Parenting With Personality! I’m excited about all the new things that are being developed, and I can’t wait to share them with you! You won’t want to miss the upcoming email mini-courses on child personalities and parent personalities! There’s also the addition of a Parenting With Personality Facebook Group where we are thrilled to start growing more interactive support for parents! And if that’s not enough, I’ll fill you in on a little secret… there are some other things unfolding in the next few months that will offer more education and support for parents, and especially those raising children with mental health issues. You won’t want to miss out!
So, if you haven’t already, be sure to visit this link to sign up for those free parenting resources. Since blogs and emails had been paused for a bit, you will want to be sure to connect on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter so you don’t lose out on all that you may have missed (like those radio interviews!) or miss what’s yet to come!
