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COVID CONNECT: Top tips on how to strengthen resilience

Last updated: 15/07/2020

The only constant in life is change, and the more we can develop resilience, the less bumpy life will be.

While COVID-19 is an unprecedented situation, one positive to come from it is the reminder of the importance of building resilience — so we can be even more prepared for the next set of changes or challenges we will inevitably experience.

Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress. Resilience involves "bouncing back" from difficult experiences, but it also means being able to pivot and change direction when situations demand it.

To help you take your first steps towards strengthening building your resilience, we here at IMPACT have compiled our top tips.

1. Practice Meditation/Mindfulness

Becoming more resilient is all about changing our mental outlook and this is made much easier by learning to train your mind and your body.

One of the most indispensable skills in building resilience is the practice of putting some distance, even if it's only a minute or two, between you and your emotional reactions to events.

The best tool for this is meditation or mindfulness.

These practices can fend off spring-loaded responses to stress and create some space for you to recoup.

Learning to relax when the world seems to be demanding you fall apart is one of the mist valuable skills you can learn.

Go online and discover the many approaches and resources available on Meditation and Mindfulness.

2. Remember that a setback is not a disaster

Reprogram yourself to have a different first reaction to obstacles, or at least a healthier second reaction.

Reprogram yourself to remember that setbacks don't mean the end of the world.

Remember that there are many aspects of your life you can actually control and change.

Don't make everything a disaster and lose all proportion of the actual size of the problem. This 'reprogramming' will be made much easier by step 1.

3. Accept change.

Change is a part of life. We can't escape it.

Accepting circumstances that cannot be changed can help you focus on circumstances that you can alter.

Look at all the ways you've changed for the better over your life and understand that more is to come.

Change is the only constant in life, and it's better to accept that as soon as possible.

4. Nurture hope

An optimistic outlook empowers you to expect that good things will happen to you.

Not all the time, as that is unreasonable, but expecting there will be as much good as there is 'bad'.

And if you try to look at setbacks as opportunities to learn, the 'bad' will disappear as well.

5. Seek help when you need it

Don't let things overwhelm you. Reach out to others.

No one can do everything and we can build resilience by not overloading ourselves with the full weight of our problems when there are people that can help us shoulder the load.

If you or someone you know is struggling during these unprecedented times, call IMPACT on 4153 4233.

Our new COVID Connect program is perfect for helping provide the supports people need. Find out more at CLICK HERE

Please note: This website may contain references to, or feature images, videos, and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have passed away.

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