When things get tough, sometimes you have to make a change to get back on track. A reset gives you the time and space you need to return to a healthy, successful life. Making a few simple changes might shift your perspective and help you move on from the catastrophe you experienced.
Get Some Perspective
Getting perspective can be as simple as taking a deep breath and giving yourself a moment without any obligations or distractions other than your thoughts. If you haven’t tried meditation, now is a good time to try it out. It can help you gather your thoughts, relax, and think about what your future might hold. One of the most important steps to gaining perspective is to find a way to calm down, relax, and clear your mind.
Another thing that might help you slow down and get some perspective is alternate nostril breathing. Sit in a quiet, comfortable position and press your right nostril closed with your right thumb. Inhale a long, slow breath through your left nostril.
Next, remove your thumb you’re your right nostril and press your left nostril closed with your ring finger. Exhale through your right nostril. Inhale through your right nostril. Use your thumb to press your right nostril closed and exhale through your left nostril. Repeat several times and sit quietly once you’ve completed your breathing for a few moments before continuing on with your day.
Once you’ve centered yourself, start thinking about what you want from the future. Some catastrophes create upheaval in your life – so decide what kind of life you want now, and start planning a path that will get you there. Knowing what you want can help you decide which steps you need to take to achieve your goals.
Get Distracted
After a catastrophe, it can be hard to focus on anything but the bad things that happened and the fallout. That’s one reason why it’s so important to get distracted with new and interesting things. If you’re lucky, you might even find something to fall in love with.
Check out local adult education classes and fun things that people do in your area. Wine and painting classes, cooking classes, or even home improvement classes at your local hardware store offer opportunities to explore new interests. Trying something new that challenges you is one way to get your mind off bad things that have happened. Even a few hours where you’re focused on something else can be positive for your mindset.
Not every distraction has to be expensive. You could take long drives through the countryside, dine on a picnic at an overlook, or take short hikes and read in the sunshine. There are always farmer’s markets to explore, rivers to swim in, and inexpensive activities to indulge in, like bowling or kicking a soccer ball around.
Every distraction you choose should have a healthy aim in mind. For example, if you’re starting a new life after experiencing domestic violence, finding activities you love could help you build healthy friendships. To find out more about what constitutes domestic violence, click here.
Get Organized
Once you’ve calmed down and found new things to love, it’s time to get organized and make sure your life is on track. Becoming organized is one of the best ways to do that.
Start by making a list of things that you do every day, including your habits and your obligations. If your time is organized, it follows that your mind and spirit will be more organized as well. Once you have a list, see whether you can combine or rearrange the things you do to better make use of your time. You may find that juggling or merging a few activities gives you more free time than you thought to explore other distractions, for example.
Next, organize your living space, especially if the catastrophe you’re recovering from included an upheaval in your living situation. Reclaim your physical space. Go through everything you own and decide whether it’s something you want. If it is, is it in the best place? Consider new storage options. Determine whether you’re happy with the layout of your furniture.
Once everything is neat and organized, consider choosing a piece of your space and revitalizing it. Adding a small table and a few plants to a deck can give you a new place to relax and rejuvenate yourself, for example. Painting a wall in your kitchen may help you take advantage of morning light to give you a boost while you wait for your coffee to brew. Change things up and make your space yours.
After a catastrophe, sometimes it feels like life will never be the same. It feels like you aren’t able to go on. But you will go on, and you will find yourself in a better place than ever with a little time. Take care of yourself, focus on building the future you want, and remember to have some fun along the way. A life reset is a hard thing to do, but it will allow you to evaluate exactly what you want and how to get it as you rise above the struggles of your past.
