Sarah’s Health Notes: getting (more) comfortable with change
During lockdowns 1 to 3, it seemed as if the world had hit the Pause button and left it there. Now the button has been swopped to Change for many people and shifting sands can be difficult to cope with.
Sometimes change can whop you in the solar plexus, especially when many things seem uncertain. Moving from a job he loved to a good but as yet unknown position in the same company is proving disruptive and demotivating for a young friend. Talking to him recently, I asked what was the biggest underlying problem for him. ‘I find it difficult to cope with change,’ he said.
While I was pondering this and trying to think of something useful to help turn his outlook from negative to a bit more positive about what was going on, an email plopped in with simple relevant tips from Sid Madge, the founder of Meee, a life and work coaching site. Mee draws on psychology, neuroscience and sociology to inform its supportive material for making life that bit easier and more fruitful . As well as a website, meee.global, there’s a range of helpful books at meeebooks.com.
Here’s what Sid suggests when you feeling the sands shifting under you:
Be grateful for the things that are good about your life
Change can be disconcerting. Take a few minutes to pinpoint the three things that you’re most grateful for in your life. Relish these during the change you are experiencing.
Manage your expectations
Change means doing, thinking or being different in some way. This frequently includes mistakes and slip ups in the process. Take a minute to reflect on the last change you embarked on. Were your expectations unrealistically high? Stop expecting perfection. Instead, allow yourself to settle for consistent effort.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
‘We all procrastinate sometimes,’ says Sid. However, if you do have to make a change, it’s best to get started. ‘If I’m procrastinating, I count down from 5 and make myself start on 1, which could be thinking about change in a different more positive way. This is highly effective as it’s not negotiable.’
Let Nature help
Change, even positive change, can cause disruption and elevated stress. Too much cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, causes havoc to our health and mental wellbeing. One way to help reverse this is to get outside into nature (even a local park). Pay attention to the sounds and smells and simply enjoy some quiet time and the fresh air.
Take care of the basics
You may not be able to control other people and situations but you can control these. Eat well and regularly – give yourself treats too. Take a few minutes to plan your week’s shopping and meals. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of still water. Get enough sleep; don’t read emails, texts, WhatsApp or read/post on social after 8pm and do focus on winding down properly. Spend time doing things you enjoy with people you like/love. And don’t forget to laugh!
