Navigating the New Year: Tools for Emotional Well-being and Success
Photo Credit: KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA from Pexels
By: Jordan King
With any new year comes new expectations and goals, along with a plethora of considerations regarding how one wants to proceed. Trying to maintain balance and a sense of self can become overwhelming, especially when there is a lot you'd like to accomplish or change. As this year begins, it is important to reflect on and gather tools for emotional regulation, enabling you to perform at your peak while giving yourself grace during the process.
Breath Control:
Power and control over your breathing can center you back to the present and alleviate any pressure you may be feeling. Taking this pause also allows you to check in with your body and mind, assessing your response to current news or situations and allowing time to respond properly. Take slow breaths in, hold briefly, and then release. Instantly, blood pressure is reduced, and muscles become less tense. There is no right or wrong way to breathe, and various styles or methods may bring better results as you adapt them to your routine.
Plan Ahead:
There is a time to act and a time to wait. Using discernment guides us toward what is most important for the moment. When possible, giving yourself time to complete your task is more ideal than trying to finish at the last minute. Even when things are at the wire and you need to act fast, being methodical and following through will yield fewer mistakes and better control during completion!
Pivot if Needed:
You can usually tell when things may need another approach or direction. Yet, for many of us, we're so focused on the end goal that we sometimes overcommit to the process instead of implementing the needed change. Pivoting and revising your task or project have the potential to create better results rather than holding on to a vision that may not hold up as well as you may believe.
There's Always Tomorrow:
Time isn't promised, and in our fast-paced culture, it can be easy to feel like we're running out of time to complete what we need. While I can’t predict the future, I’m fairly certain that we should have another sunrise coming up. After the end of the day, communicate and articulate if you need more time for completion. For tasks already on a deadline or timeline, don't fret as you get closer to the finish line! Prioritize and visualize the steps needed to deliver the best quality possible.
Situations will still arise, but it's crucial to be smart in how we handle and react to moments that may cause stress and discomfort. With time and practice, even when feelings begin to brew, you can stay leveled and perform at your best. No matter what life throws at you, there is always a new day and new opportunities coming!
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