Nurturing Positivity In Our Lives
WORDS : CHYKA KEEBAUGH
PHOTOS : COMMISSION STUDIO 2019
I’m all for positivity, but I am not going to sit back and pretend we are ALL doing OK…
Because we’re not. We have our own daily battles, our ups and downs, our worries and freak-outs about when our lives will return back to normal. Living with this lack of control feels new, not knowing how our lives will look in the next few months, the next few weeks….even the next day. So as we face each day, let’s face it with a good dose of positivity - it’s as contagious as negativity and I for one know, that although my positivity gets tested every day through this pandemic, it needs to remain. I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I know that we will come out of this pandemic more connected, more grateful and more willing to adapt to life changes, as a community and within ourselves.
Staying positive for me is staying connected to friends and family, it’s walking the dog because I need the fresh air, its taking time to finish that cup of tea without staring at my phone, it’s allowing myself to watch another TV series (even during the day!) and it’s laying on the couch enjoying group chats with girlfriends. It’s’s these small tasks that make up my day, and these tasks that keep my spirits high.
Nurturing positivity in your family
Spending all day every day together is testing, so let’s create some fun routines that can break up the monotony of everyday life. Create a routine and a time to engage with one another positively - unless all family games end in fights in which maybe chose something else?! Whether it be once a week or once a day, create a reason to come together, a reason to talk, laugh and connect.
Play family games together – you could try board games, 20 questions or charades.
Pick a recipe and cook together, divide and conquer something complex, or teach your children how to cook the family favourites.
Have a picnic in the garden or living room. You know I am about mixing up entertaining spaces, and eating picnic-style indoors is an old family favourite of mine.
Start a chapter book, and read one chapter each day. Or tell a story together – you can take turns to add the next instalment.
Turn on some music and have an indoor singing, lip-sync or dance party. My themed Spotify playlists are a good place to start!
Follow along to some YouTube exercise videos. Or do a TikTok dance together, play with crazy INSTA filters and take some family portraits.
Miss travelling as a family? Take a virtual tour of a gallery or historic place together. The world is your oyster and the internet will take you there.
Go for a walk or bike ride together if you can keep a responsible distance from other people.
Positive vibe inducing self-care
Self-care is more than pouring yourself a wine and popping on a face mask. It’s taking time to really focus on your own needs, to go on that run because you know the post-exercise endorphins will keep your mood up for the rest of the day, therefore taking care of your emotional, mental and physical health. Self-care is about refuelling, “it is rather about knowing what we need to do in order to take care of ourselves, being subsequently, able to take care of others as well. That is, if I don’t take enough care of myself, I won’t be in the place to give to my loved ones either.”
Get to know your “no” triggers, with things you know you don’t like or you no longer want to do. It could be not taking calls after 9 pm,
Focus on maintaining a predominantly nutritious, healthy diet. But never NOT treat yourself! Life is too short for not eating cake, carbs, sugar….!!
Maintain a sleep routine, try and get a good 7-8 hours by going to be and waking around the same time every day.
Exercise how you like! Sure running is an easy go-to - but if you don’t like it, don’t do it! Find out what exercise you love and go for it, jump onto youtube and try out new classes, once you find what training you love, staying active is less of a chore.
Feeling sick? Got a twinge in your back? Get it taken care of. By avoiding doctors, you prolong the worry, stress and pain. Taking care of yourself means you can take care of others.
Meditation and relaxation exercises are a good habit to get into. Learning simple, effective ways to switch off and refuel can only benefit your mental health. There are amazing apps and programs all over the web, google away!
Spend time with your loved ones. If it cant be face to face, then call them up and talk! Venting your issues, laughing at old stories, talking about TV - whatever it is you need, connecting with others will always expand your perspective and boost your mood
Do at least one relaxing activity every day. That could be reading a chapter a day, walking for 30 minutes or unwinding on the couch with headphones on. Make the time to relax.
Look for opportunities to laugh! 2020 is a crazy place to live in right now if we don’t laugh now and then we will suffocate in the doom and gloom. So let’s look for smile-inducing opportunities - online, through friends and family and even at yourself.
Nurturing positivity WITHIN YOUR FRIENDSHIPS
Sharing the love and positivity amongst your friendships groups can be as simple as sending a quick text message checking in. It can be organising virtual or real-life catch-ups, it can be going a little old school and sending postcards, letters and mixed tapes - anything that connects you and brings a sense of peace and happiness to your day.
Spend an afternoon creating postcards to post, and you can even add in a blank one to encourage a return reply. You could state why you appreciate their friendship or ask them a silly question - it doesn’t matter. It’s about connection and bringing a smile to someone else’s face on what could be a tough day for them. And really, who doesn’t love receiving a postcard?
Make that call, not an email or a text, and let them know you are thinking of them. Got a question? Call them. Want to catch up? Call them.
While we continue to isolate and are unable to travel, think about sending a friend a care package. A shoebox with some treats, a magazine, black writing book and pen, and whatever else you have on hand to brighten one’s day. Actions speak louder than words, and a positive care package will not only make you feel better, but it could inspire others to do the same.
Focus on being present, like really present. Mindlessly chatting over text, group chats on apps are all good and well for catch-ups, but if you need that deeper connection, be present and listen. Face to face (yet socially distanced) conversations with eye contact build a connection. You are showing yourself to be present; you are listening, you are available - you are positively nurturing your relationships.
Plan future trips together! There is nothing more fun than travelling with friends - and although we have no idea when we can leave our own state, let alone the country, it doesn’t mean we can’t dream. From coffee trips to summer’s out of town, making affirmative, achievable plans will make a life out of lockdown that little bit sweeter!
Credits : Raisingchildren.net.au + Psychcentral.com