6 Ways to Boost Resilience in Uncertain Times

Spring symbolizes renewal, growth and the earth’s rebirth. The awakening of nature gives us the strength to start over and move on.

Spring is a reminder of the resilience of nature after the long and gloomy days of winter, and instills in us a sense of normality especially now - in a time full of tension and global unrest.

Global issues such as: climate change, economic instability and wars are just some of the factors that have created a general feeling of tension and uncertainty.

Below are data and statistics to shed light on stress levels around the world:

Gallup World Poll: In 2021, a significant portion of the global population reported experiencing stress: 41% said they experienced a lot of stress, and 42% reported a lot of worry. 

Champion Health (UK):  One in 14 UK adults (7%) feel stressed every single day (CIPHR) 74% of people feel so stressed they have been overwhelmed or unable to cope (Mental Health Foundation and YouGov).

SingleCare (Global): Based on various sources, they report countries like Greece, Philippines, and the United States have a higher percentage of people experiencing a lot of stress and a strong sense of emotional or physical tension.

~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Stress and Mental Resilience

'Mental resilience' is a powerful tool for reducing stress. It is the ability to face life crises and adapt to difficult situations in a positive way.  It’s a learned ability that allows us to deal well with any crisis in life, to take action, move on and grow. People who seem strong and resilient in the face of challenges, are actually developing their mental resilience all the time. The good news is that anyone can learn how to strengthen their mental resilience in times of uncertainty.

Resilience helps you lead a healthier life - physically and mentally:

·         It allows you to better deal with life's challenges and situations of uncertainty.

·         It helps you reduce stress and anxiety in your daily life.

·         It helps you build better and more enjoyable relationships.

·         It helps you achieve your goals and be more successful in life.

6 Ways to Renew Your Mindset

1/ Declutter your house - Spring clean your thoughts 

Cleaning and organizing the house brings peaceful feelings and a sense of well-being in the spiritual sense. It is also a symbol of emotional and mental cleansing. Decluttering helps you release thoughts that don't serve you and thus reduces stress.

~ Leo Tolstoy

Marie Kondo, a Japanese tidying and organization expert, developed the KonMari method, based on the importance of letting go of things with gratitude and surrounding yourself with items that inspire joy.

According to News Medical research, there is a positive link between cleaning and mental well-being. They found some benefits of spring cleaning: it reduces stress and anxiety, elevates your mood and gives you a sense of accomplishment. It also increases focus and productivity, and gives you a greater sense of control in your life.

You can make the cleaning task easier by breaking tasks into smaller chunks and listening to pleasant music or podcasts while you clean.

2/ Bring in the smell of Spring

Colorful flowers bloom during the spring season: roses, tulips, lilies, daffodils and more.

Each flower has its unique symbolism; The daffodil symbolizes new beginnings, the lily of the valley symbolizes purity, the tulip is a symbol for prosperity and indulgence, and the rose offers solace, hope, and comfort in times of distress.

It is the perfect time to place a bouquet of fresh flowers on your desk to bring the feeling of spring indoors.

3/ Brighten up your life with Peach Fuzz  

At a time when we are living with political and economic crisis, it is good to be surrounded by trendy, fresh and vibrant colors such as: peach, red, pink and green to spread as much positive energy as possible in your living space.

Pantone, the global color authority has chosen Peach Fuzz - a delicate, pinkish-orange hue - as the color for 2024. Peach Fuzz sets the tone for international brands and manufacturers from a variety of fields: fashion, interior design, art and more.

"This year's choice echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection...it's a hue that resonates with compassion..." says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

4/ Bloom this Spring with 2024 design trends

Spring 2024 interior design trends are expressed in refreshing pastel colors - peach, red, pink, green and more. Interior designers provide their top seasonal decorating ideas to freshen up your living space with a little creativity and the use of natural raw materials that create a particularly springtime vibe. 

Dress up your living room with airy textile in prints of leaves and flowers to get the feeling of connection to nature.  

Brighten up your bedroom with breathable cotton, floral bedding in colors that suit your taste and improve the length and quality of your sleep.

You can add some decorative items/dinnerware in fruits or flowers prints to complete your spring décor.

Fashion also blooms in a variety of colorful styles and spectacular spring shades that lift your spirit. 

Choose colorful spring fashion trends to refresh your wardrobe: Ladies, update your closet with romantic floral spring outfits paired with spring-like earrings and bags. Men, you can rejuvenate your wardrobes with spring floral shirts. These trends are a great way to add the magic touch of the regenerating nature and fill your hearts with hope and a lot of optimism.

5/ Make yourself spring-inspired recipes

Spring Vegetables Photo: Gareth Hubbard/Unsplash

According to the BBC, experts claim that a diet effects your mental wellbeing. Foods containing seasonal veggies can lift your mood and boost your mental health. Spring is the ideal time to visit your local farmer's market and buy fresh vegetables and fruits such as: arugula, beets, asparagus, apricots, cherries at the best price. You can prepare a variety of incredibly tasty salads with fresh seasonal produce.

You can also plant seeds of seasonal spices such as: basil, rosemary, coriander and dill and see them as seeds of hope for growth and a better future.

Spring is also a great time to embrace fresh flavors, and green smoothies are a perfect way to do so. A green smoothie is made from fresh and seasonal ingredients such as spinach, lettuce, avocado with the addition of chia seeds, making it nutritious and rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Make the most of this season- get creative in the kitchen and make yourself delicious and healthy green smoothies.

6/ Get outside to soak up the joy of the spring

Spring brings with it an abundance of good things - pleasant weather, chirping birds, emerging animals and fields dotted with a multitude of colorful flowers - and invites you to go outside, breathe fresh air and spend as much time as possible in nature.

Science has shown that going for a walk-in nature brings many mental and emotional health benefits. Connecting with nature can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from everyday worries.

Love Yourself! Go outside to enjoy the sunlight and find some comfort and joy in the beauty of nature during challenging times.

Spring is still here, bringing with it a breath of fresh air and a celebration of natural beauty, inside and out. The renewal and blossoming of Spring bring changes that affect the general atmosphere, so that we think and act differently and remember that what has fallen will grow again and what has stopped can move again.

Let Spring be a source of strength and inspiration for your mental resilience - to be able to look at reality through fresh, new eyes: to accept any situation with your head held high.

Wishing you a beautiful spring season filled with peace & love.

Ally 🌷

***

Ally Gilboa, founder of A.Q Group- Language Solutions.

Entrepreneur, speaker & writer, sharing her insights on entrepreneurship, personal growth and success.