Keeping a Positive Mind Set When Times Are Tough

The world is currently undergoing a pandemic, one which it hasn’t seen the likes of for decades and with the world’s population ever growing, more people have had to self-isolate and practice social distancing than we’ve ever known. While the world tries to regain control outside, for the time being many of us are having to remain inside, away from friends and family and for some vulnerable groups, even away from the local shops and neighbours.

Times like this can be trying, not only for our homes as we try to get to grips with this new balance but also for our mental and emotional health. Fortunately, although the end may not be in sight just yet and we will soon put this isolating period behind us.

For the time being, practicing good mental hygiene is key and will help to keep your spirits raised. To help you along, here are some favourable things to add to your weekly schedule that can help refresh and rejuvenate your mood.

Charity

If you aren’t in a vulnerable group and are not at risk of coming into contact with anyone that falls under the vulnerable category, then we are the ones that will keep the world turning right now and need to be in the position to provide aid and support to others. Whether this is as simple as ringing around the neighbours and asking if they need anything or being a point of contact for someone feeling overwhelmed with it all. With the economy straining, charity donations are going to fall and while this understandably cannot be helped at this time, there are other ways we can assist by providing time or skills.

For many people, charity is not a regular part of their lives and yet can be extremely fulfilling and rewarding. In Islam, charity makes up one of the five pillars and the culture is centralised around looking after those most in need. For examples, the rules of Qurbani, an annual festival in the Islamic calendar where Muslims sacrifice an animal, state that all cuts of meat should be shared in three equal ways between them, a loved one and someone in need.

Learning a New Skill

If you are someone that is working from home for the foreseeable future or one of the unfortunate many that are facing job insecurity at this time, there has never been a better time to start learning and developing new skills. Whether it’s learning to draw, learning to cook, finding resources to learn how to program or even taking the time to understand a more complex topic like maths or science. Self-development is extremely rewarding and has the benefit of boosting your employability and your sense of self-worth. There are plenty of free and paid resources available depending on your budget, from the popular Skillshare and Brilliant to W3Schools (for front end web languages) and the incredible video platform, YouTube.

Be careful not to burn yourself out too quickly, take your time while learning a new skill, revise it thoroughly and understand it. We can all do maths when handed a calculator but the true skill is understanding and being able to apply formulas to any situation and the same applies when learning a new skill.

Use Technology To Keep In Touch

The world outside may be scary but it has already provided us the tools to never need to feel alone again. The internet is an incredible utility that can keep us connected, even if we are thousands of miles apart. With voice chat, video chat and the facility to send pictures and videos, we can feel closer to our loved ones than ever before.

If you are technologically savvy and have helped set up your friends and family to stay in touch, why not offer your skills to someone in need who may not be proficient with the use of modern-day technology? Writing simple and easy to follow guides on out-of-the-box usable communication devices or even better, providing easy to follow, steady-paced instructional videos for those who may be unable to leave their homes.

The world should hopefully soon go into recovery but until it does, life may be different for the time being and during this time, we are responsible more than ever for ensuring we keep society positive and functional. Keep smiling, after all, this too shall pass.