Doing It All When There’s So Much to Do: Resilience Reminders

“Change is the only constant in life.” - Heraclitus, Greek philosopher

Ups and downs, peaks and valleys - all part of the human experience. But that doesn’t mean we navigate change in healthy, sustainable, or productive ways.

Hello, resilience – our not-so-secret weapon to protect us against the buffeting winds of life’s cycles. Resilience describes how we bounce back from adversity. It’s how we stay upright in the face of frustration and failure, and not crawl under desks or hide under covers. Resilience slows the pendulum swings and brings us closer to the center.

We build resilience through practice, through finding the balance between “Life is short so I’m going to do it all” and “Life is short so I’m not going to kill myself overdoing it.” Strengthening resilience requires a holistic approach - mental, emotional, and physical.

Think of it as a gym routine - combining muscles groups for a total body workout. (Yes, strength training is another to-do.) On some days we’ll strengthen chests and shoulders, on others backs and biceps. 

In our ongoing evolution from surviving to striving to thriving, here are three ways to create a total body resilience routine.

Strengthen your HEAD.

Mental resilience starts with quieting your mind. When your brain feels full, try:

• Turning off screens. I know this is tough. Start small - maybe no technology in bed or setting timers for certain apps. Get the help you need - today I asked my husband to hold me accountable for technology-free evenings so I can study for an upcoming exam. 
• Meditating - even for just a minute. When you feel your mind swimming, close your eyes and count to 30. Let the thoughts float past but try not to grab them. See how you feel - and repeat the experiment until it’s a habit.
• Acknowledging but not listening to your thoughts. If you let it, your mind will send you into an anxiety spiral. Thank it for bringing a potential concern to your attention, and ask the thought to move along. If the thought is worthy of action, write it down and address it later.

Strengthen your HEART.

Emotional resilience requires refilling your internal cup with what brings you joy. 

• Spend time with people you like - on your terms and when you want.
• Indulge yourself in small ways. Play with a pet, take a bath, eat a favorite treat. Savor the moment.
• Express gratitude and be kind to others. It really does work. 

Strengthen your HANDS.

Physical resilience asks us to listen to our bodies. Notice when you are hungry or thirsty, alert or drooping. We “power through,” sticking to an external clock for meals and breaks, rather than aligning internally. Challenge yourself to notice:

• Your daily energy cycles. Do you peak in the morning and crash in the afternoon? Or are you a slow starter, ramping up to later bursts? 
• When you are hungry and when you are full. Are you denying yourself nourishment when you need it - and going past the point of satiation?  
• How you feel before and after exercise. The “tired” I feel after the gym is different from the “tired” I feel after sitting all day. Heed the advice you’ve been hearing for years and MOVE.

Wrapping up. 

The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become. - Heraclitus (again)

Or, as Professor Dumbledore said in The Chamber of Secrets, “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

Let your head, heart, and hands guide your choices - especially when there’s too much to do.

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Tina is founder of WorkJoy, helping leaders at all levels make GREAT choices - aligning heads, hearts, and hands. Tina also wishes she went to Hogwarts. Learn more about us and schedule a chat.