How to Change your Mindset

It is officially week number 8 of online learning and teaching remotely. It is no lie that I am really starting to feel a little tired. At times I feel as if I am tied to my computer. I find myself waking up in the middle of the night panicking for no reason. Then I remember that I forgot to post part of the assignment for the next day or I forgot to reply to an email. No matter how much I try, a little anxiety still seeps in when I least expect it. Does this sound familiar? Situations such as this were starting to pop up more frequently. I knew right away that I needed to make a change. That is when I started to think about why it was happening and how I could change my mindset.

Teachers everywhere have been put to the test. They have been asked to stop what they were doing and rethink their whole curriculum and frame of mind. To say that is challenging is an understatement. Many had to do this and be ready in only a few days! Nevertheless, we persisted. We adapted and we conquered!

Change your Mindset

It may have taken some time, but after many ups and downs, I have finally found a bit of peace in my new routine. Now, this doesn’t mean I am saying that every day is easy. It does mean that I have moved towards accepting the new reality that has been laid before me. One important part of finding peace with this new situation has been by changing my mindset and focus on positivity. 

Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many – not on your misfortunes, of which all men have some.

– Charles Dickens

A few changes to my morning routine has helped me change my mindset around. Now I find myself looking for the good instead of dwelling on the bad. These simple changes, including writing my morning pages and writing in my gratitude journal, have given me the support I need during a time when most things are out of my control. If you are looking for more information about creating a morning routine, see my post here!

I know you are now saying to yourself… “Easier said than done!” Believe me, I understand. I felt that way too. This pandemic has tested me in all sorts of ways and at times I still feel like I am struggling to just get through the day. I have always had a hard time staying positive and honestly would never say that I am naturally a positive person. That being said, it doesn’t mean that you can’t learn to change your mindset! It is possible and it is worth it! 

Morning pages

Instead of concentrating on what I cannot control, I have decided to focus on what I can control. That includes giving my body and mind everything it needs to stay strong and healthy. To start, I have encouraged myself to wake up earlier and use the early morning hours to my benefit. Having quiet time in the morning before anyone else wakes up allows me time to process my thoughts and reflect without having to rush. 

The most important part of my day is my morning routine. During this time I sit down with my coffee and bring out my journal. I start my day by writing out my Morning Pages. This is based on Julia Cameron’s system from the book, “The Artist’s Way”. You may be asking, “what are morning pages?” If you haven’t heard about it, I highly suggest you take a look at Julia’s website and blog. 

What are morning pages?

Morning pages are three pages of long-hand writing done every morning. It is a stream of consciousness writing where you just let your thoughts (any thoughts) flow out onto the paper. It helps you to clear your mind and prepare for the day ahead. Most of the time my thoughts are not even complete sentences and that is ok! These pages are for you to see and no one else! The important thing is that you write three pages. At first, I was a little bit skeptical, but I tried anyway. I had heard so many wonderful things about writing morning pages. Well, I started and haven’t looked back since! 

Gratitude journal

The next part of my morning routine includes writing in my gratitude journal. I find that starting my day off on the right foot and concentrating on mindfulness helps guide me towards a more positive day. Even though some days are harder than others, I try to think of all of the good things that have happened. So often I have negative thoughts running through my mind over and over. It is easy to let these thoughts get the best of us, but I know those negative thoughts will only be holding me back. 

Writing in my gratitude journal reminds me of what is truly important and all of the blessings I have been given. I feel it is like writing a thank you note to God in the same way you would write a thank you note to a friend for a gift they gave you. 

Conclusion

Trying to stay positive has been my biggest struggle during this pandemic. With all of the negativity floating around social media and in the news, it is so easy to be sucked into that tornado of fear. This negativity inspired the change to my morning routine. I give myself extra time in the early hours to focus on me. This has allowed me to change my mindset to reflect positivity. Once I made the commitment, it felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Now I spend my energy concentrating on what I actually can control rather than what is out of my control. 

I hope you found this helpful and will give it a try! It has truly made a positive difference in my life and is something that I look forward to continuing. 

I would love to hear about some of the ways you are staying positive and motivated during this time! Please share it below! 

– Krissy