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Life can sometimes seem like a series of hurdles that pile up all at once. Without the right tools in place, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and feel incapable of handling challenges. However, by deliberating on building a stronger foundation for your everyday life, you’ll find it easier to take on whatever is thrown at you and bounce back when things don’t go to plan. Here’s how to develop lasting resilience that will serve you in difficult situations.
How to build resilience in everyday life
Photo by Alex wolf mx on Pexels
1. Common challenges you might encounter
Major events are an obvious challenge to our resilience, causing significant disruption in our routines and leaving us feeling emotional and vulnerable. They don’t have to have a physical impact to threaten our toughness, with poor mental health or financial stability being just as difficult to manage. Common examples include losing a loved one or going through a breakup. Or being injured in a car accident and going through the process of claiming compensation.
The small stresses of everyday life can also chip away at our resilience, over time, leading to withdrawal and burnout. This could include sustained pressure, like meeting work deadlines and maintaining the home, or one-off events like a disagreement with a friend that disrupts your social group and regular plans. Large or small, developing healthy coping mechanisms for facing challenges will help you stay strong in tough times.
2. Taking time for recovery and reflection
Sometimes, the best way to build resilience is to do nothing at all. This might sound counterintuitive, but it’s the only way to effectively recover. When life feels relentless, and the natural urge is to push through, remind yourself that rest is not a luxury – it’s a necessity. Set aside time for total relaxation, whatever this looks like to you, from an afternoon on the sofa to a long walk in the fresh air.
Reflecting on what has made you feel vulnerable is key to processing what’s happened, helping you identify a clear cause so you can find valuable solutions. You might find it useful to put your thoughts into words, journaling, or opening up to a friend or family member about how you’re feeling.
3. Seeking support for bigger issues
When facing larger issues that feel insurmountable, don’t delay seeking support. Asking for help is more of a sign of strength than stubbornly struggling on alone.
Professional support is available for all sorts of situations, and much of it is free and easily accessible, from one-on-one talking therapies through the NHS to specialist support groups in your local area. Getting guidance from experts and peers who understand what you’re going through can make you feel stronger, as well as illuminating useful tools that could help you cope in the present and flourish in the future.
4. Developing small but significant habits
Resilience is built from the ground up, through repeated actions that make it easier to stay strong when bad times occur and over time prove to yourself that you’re capable of handling challenges. Establish small but consistent habits that help to reduce stress, like morning meditation or movement, and regular exercise. Practising your passions and regularly seeing friends is a great way to maintain perspective about what’s most important, even and most especially when the chips are down.
It can be tempting to alter routine to fit around difficult circumstances, but maintaining your schedule as closely as possible is key to bolstering your mental and physical well-being in times of need. Think of these habits as anchors that help shore up your self-care and create a buffer against stressful currents. ‘Habit stacking’ – pairing two habits together, such as meditating while waiting for your morning coffee to brew – can make it easier to establish routines that stick.
5. Building a helpful community
At the heart of resilience is connection. Surrounding yourself with supportive people can make all the difference in how you cope with life’s ups and downs, whether that’s friends and family members or communities of like-minded people. These are channels for encouragement and advice, and just a listening ear when all you need is to be heard. The support of a community is a reminder that you’re not facing challenges alone.
Building a supportive community requires careful consideration. Find strength in others who share your values and limit access to those who disrupt your helpful routines or endanger your peace of mind. Knowing you’ll receive honest advice and help without judgment is key to feeling resilient during turbulent times.
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