When the pandemic hit the world, every aspect of our lives was affected. The expectations and goals you set for yourself pre-lockdown most likely feel out of reach now and perhaps need to be adjusted. This shift in priorities, schedules, and daily activities has also significantly impacted our mental health.
Here are some tips you can use to adjust the expectations you have on yourself to lessen your internal burden.
1) Weigh Your Old Expectations
Dwelling on the past does nothing good for anyone. Ask yourself if your old expectations are still realistic and doable in your current situation. This can help you understand where you are now and whether you need to adjust your plans and goals.
Do not pressure yourself to follow the old schedules and routines that you had before quarantine life. Try to think of new things to include in your routine and give yourself a break now and then. Perfection is not possible, so don’t even try to get there!
2) Determine How Your Expectations Make You Feel
Do your self-expectations motivate you or discourage you? Expectations should be attainable goals that push you to work harder. They must make you feel engaged and hopeful, not negative and lost. Life right now is already tough, so be kind to yourself. Let those former expectations go and be more forgiving with the new ones you set in the world as we know it now.
3) Simplify Your Life
An excellent way to keep yourself levelheaded is to make a routine and stick to it. However, keep in mind that you should not be too strict with yourself. Do your best to achieve the balance of discipline, but also flexibility. Ask yourself the question: “how can I make this easier?” and then see what comes to mind. Focus less on things and more on experiences.
4) Devote Time to Communication
It’s become clear throughout the pandemic that the better we can communicate with loved ones, the happier we can be. We’ve spent a lot of time together this year….some might say a bit too much! By communicating well with those in our lives, we can work together to achieve goals and to be aware of what each of us needs.
5) Exercise Self-Love
If you love yourself, it will be easy for you to love others too. Take care of yourself and try not to get too mired in stress and anxiety. Stay hydrated, take long baths, go for a run, pick up some old hobbies. Spend time in nature. Remind yourself that you are enough and are always doing your best. Do your best to be satisfied with yourself.
Conclusion
Everyone has been facing their struggles this year, as none of us could escape the effects of the pandemic. Despite all these difficulties, we must do our best to find ways to be compassionate to ourselves. We have to continuously learn and adapt to how the world works and to be our own biggest cheerleaders. If you need help or support, mental health counsellors are ready to help you find peace with yourself.
You do not have to suffer and do everything on your own. Our counsellors at Ward & Associates Psychological Services are ready to help if you are in need of individual counselling in Sherwood Park and other nearby areas. Give us a call and book your appointment today.