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Want to Be More Resilient? Try Engaging in These Activities

Since resilience is a state of being, our level of resilience is constantly changing. Sometimes we feel very resilient, which allows us to be more adaptive, flexible, and collaborative.

After experiencing high stress or trauma, we may find our resilience has slipped and we know this because we become more irritable or moody, or maybe we have trouble sleeping (see characteristics of low resilience).

To develop and maintain your resilience, you can incorporate resilience enhancing activities into your regular routine. When you sense your resilience slipping, increase the time you spend on these activities to give yourself a resilience boost. 

Luckily, there are hundreds of activities you can engage in that build resilience. Here are just a few examples divided by the five resilience factors:

Self-Care

  • Exercise regularly

  • Dance

  • Sleep 7-9 hours per night

  • Eat a healthy diet

  • Drink plenty of water

  • Avoid toxic people

  • Schedule down time for yourself

  • Take a vacation

  • Take a mental health day

  • Engage in breathing exercises

  • Get a pet

  • Manage your workload

  • Engage in quiet reflection and contemplation

  • Meditate, practice mindfulness, pray

  • Play sports and games

  • Read fiction

  • Engage in a hobby

  • Sing or play music

Social Support

  • Work on your relationships with friends and family

  • Talk about what you’re going through with a trusted friend or mentor

  • Nurture new relationships

  • Commit to regular social interaction (virtual during coronavirus)

  • Ask a friend or colleague to lunch (virtual during coronavirus)

  • Host a dinner party or social gathering (virtual during coronavirus)

  • Join a club/team

  • Organize an interest group

  • Develop peer mentors

Problem Solving

  • Ask for help

  • Set boundaries and say no

  • Ask questions and be a good listener

  • Anticipate change and view change as an opportunity for growth

  • Give yourself adequate time to process change

  • Identify and address the source of problems you’re facing

  • Develop a logical way to work through problems – ask why

  • Prioritize people and things that are important to you

  • Focus on things that you have control over

  • Use a to-do list

  • Know when to quit

  • Drop burdens and negative thoughts

Meaning & Purpose

  • Volunteer

  • Join a religious community

  • Write down your personal and professional goals

  • Engage in activities that bring you a sense of personal satisfaction and fulfillment

  • Have a passion for something

  • Take time to think about the feelings of others

  • Identify your core values

  • Self-reflect about your meaning and purpose in life

Positive Outlook

  • Focus on the part of your life that is going well

  • Limit negative and self-defeating thoughts

  • Visualize yourself being successful and happy

  • Keep a gratitude journal

  • Write down three good things each day

  • Compliment other people

  • Reframe how you view negative events

  • Show authentic appreciation to others

What do you do to build resilience? What can you start doing today?

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To learn more about how you and your team can thrive in adversity, visit my website, and follow me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. And, check out my online Resilience Leadership course.

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