Has your resilience reservoir dried up? How to replenish it as lock down loosens

As you know I am all about supporting people to build their resilience so that they can cope with the curve balls life throws at us.

Cute dog! (with “curve ball”) Picture credit - Glen Carrie Unsplash

We have all been thrown a massive Covid-19 shaped curve ball this year, which has knocked the world for six, and which will continue doing so for some time yet. None of us could have anticipated what 2020 would bring, and it has impacted all our lives in a myriad of ways. This is the absolute epitome of the VUCA world - volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. We have all had to rip up the plan and start adapting fast.

There is now a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel though, and as we start to take the first tentative steps out of lock down, we will need to draw on our resilience to adapt and thrive in the new and very different world we now find ourselves in. But what if your resilience is so depleted you feel unable to cope? What if your resilience reservoir has already dried up?

How full is your Resilience Reservoir? Picture credit - Oscar Keys Unsplash

Loosening lock down presents significant challenges for some, as we have all grown used to staying at home, in our sanctuary, where we feel safe. Now we are emerging, and for some this is going to feel dangerous, scary and uncertain. As with going into lock down, coming out of lock down is a huge sociological experiment. We have never experienced anything like this before, and only time will tell how well we humans will cope. 

If you are struggling with the idea of getting back to ‘normal’ whatever that might look like now, I would recommend you revisit my blog “10 Tips for Building Resilience” which has lots of useful techniques and coping strategies. For most of us, life will need to change in some way, whether that is how we work, where we work, how we care for our families, or how we find new work if our previous job no longer exists.

Now is a good time to take stock of things, by considering what you have learned from recent events. What has changed for you personally as a result of the pandemic, and how might you want to shape your future in this strange new world we all find ourselves in? Getting a sense of focus and grounding can help us feel more in control of our lives and more positive about the future. I find it is useful to list all the things that have gone well, and all the things that have stayed the same. This is the bedrock of our lives, and reminding ourselves of these certainties becomes our security blanket when times get tough.

It's also important to practice self-care, by eating well, getting enough sleep, and trying to do some regular exercise. Tempting as it may be to chug our way through a tube of Pringles and a six pack of lager, it won’t really help us feel any better, so try not to give in to these cravings.

Being kind to yourself, and patient with yourself, is also essential. It can sometimes feel like we are set up to fail as we try to navigate this crazy journey, but acknowledging we are all doing the best we can in exceptionally challenging times is important.

There are many things outside of our control right now, but recognising that we do still have options and choices can enable us to feel more in control of our lives, so take some time to consider what you want to keep, what you want to lose, and what you want to see change. Considering these and developing a plan to help you get where you want to be helps us regain some clarity and focus, which brings us hope for the future. This sense of hope is what refills our resilience reservoir, helping us to spring forward, identify new opportunities, and feel more positive.

What will you do to refill your Resilience Reservoir? Picture credit - Stephanie Klepacki Unsplash