How To Master Your Best Assets
Prior to the pandemic, daily goals were on everyone’s list.
The goal might have been to go to school or to work.
The goal to meet with friends over the weekend.
The goal to fly to Hawaii next summer.
Life skills were still being practiced among society during daily interactions. No one would have thought that the world, literally, would shut down.
In early 2020, life as we knew it, closed shop.
School was cancelled and businesses locked their doors. Parents were now home full time with their children.
Partners were spending twenty-four hours a day with each other. At first, it seemed like a long vacation, then the anxiety and boredom started taking over.
Communities were advised to limit their outdoor exposure and necessity shopping. In person contact became nonexistent.
Families stayed connected over video chat and phone calls. Adolescents found themselves consumed by online social platforms for needed interaction. The world turned virtual.
Life skills were not being used, as the need was not there. As humans, we thrive when we have in person interactions. It is how we grow and learn. Since life has changed, the need to update your life skills has become a necessity.
The following four life skills will help you once again thrive in this new reality:
Time to tune out the news
– Many people start their day with watching the news. With live updates, any concerning broadcasts and traffic can be navigated before leaving home.
However, since the pandemic came along, watching the news has become a full-time job. In fact, a recent study conducted by Statista.com showed, “1.836 million viewers tune into FOX News in the daytime, 3.19 million viewers watch various morning news shows, and 5.35 million watch news each evening.”
By continually watching the various tragedies and political updates, anxiety and depression start effecting your daily life. By limiting your exposure to these negative outlets, this allows the brain to rest from the day more calmly and less frustrated.
If morning news is more important for your schedule, use the evening news as a quick update.
Focus on stories that are relevant to your needs and likes. Use the extra time to focus on family and self-care.
Use the last hour before bed to wind down from all the virtual noise.
Find a quiet hobby to engage with until you are tired. This works especially well for children. Reading a book or coloring a drawing can bring better serenity and more mental serotonin for a restful night’s sleep.
You will hear about the news sooner or later if you need to – it will still be there tomorrow.
Focus on learning something new every day
Most families have become quite comfortable utilizing the internet and smart devices. Each person has their own minicomputer right in the palm of their hand. Games, social networks, and video chatting have become a favorite pastime.
What is more easily forgotten is the world of information that is yet untouched. Pinterest and YouTube have become inundated with how to projects and videos with all ranges of expertise. If learning acrylic fluid art has always been a desire to try, look up the videos and get started.
If being outdoors is more your hobby style, try a “sport” that will keep you active and engaged, like gardening. This is also a terrific way to include children in the process of planting and feeding. Work as a team to find new recipes that are healthy and fulfilling. To go one step further, donate your unwanted or overgrown veggies and fruit to local neighbors or shelters for a sweet treat.
Keep your pockets full
While this changing reality has brough a lot of uncertainty and worry, it has taught families to save more money than spending it. With no where to go or travel, making large purchases have become unneeded. Instead, people have capitalized on delivery services for all other services such as groceries and home goods.
Companies have made it quite easy to get the things you want in the same day without ever leaving your house. While this was a good service during the lockdown, people are itching to spend money now that things are reopening.
Instead, keep yourself on a limit. Focus on the items that are still needed to keep your home functioning and treat yourself to a drive thru coffee as a reward.
If being outside the house is the goal, go for a nice walk at your local park. Have the family join in on making a picnic lunch. Remind children about saving money but still having an enjoyable time.
Share with your family fun stories while you eat your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Need a bit more stimulation? Why not grab your bicke and go for a ride. At home, work on crafts and small hobbies to pass the time more calmly.
Embrace new changes
During the lockdown, some families found that their chosen careers and social contacts were not as desirable as before. Maybe the co-workers you see everyday have dropped out of contact or the friends you see on the weekends have decided to move one.
Whatever the case, having the extra time has brought new discoveries and untouched dreams. While going back to work is a necessity, try asking yourself if this is where you want to be. If not, focus on a new path and embrace it.
If you always wanted to own a bakery, try taking it one step at a time. With online platforms, the internet has made it possible to sell products from your home. Utilize social media for advertising. Look into ways that will keep costs down while you explore the idea of purchasing a building and going public. Until then, enjoy the process and do not lose focus on your main source of income.
In Conclusion
Adapting life skills to the alternative way of living will bring less stress and more focus. With each passing day, you will thrive more, giving yourself and others hope.
As American author Alex Tabarrok once said, “The only way to thrive is to innovate. It’s that simple.”