Fun Ways to Embrace the Festive Season
Mark Kennedy
18 December 2024
The festive season is often described as “the most wonderful time of the year,” but the reality is that it doesn’t always
When times get tough and everything is all piling in, remaining positive can be really hard. Whether it’s juggling work deadlines, dealing with personal challenges, or just navigating the ups and downs of everyday life, it’s easy to get stuck in a spiral of negative thinking. That little voice in our heads can amplify our struggles, making us feel like we’re facing mountains instead of just bumps in the road. In this blog, we’ll look at ways to break down challenges into manageable steps, find joy in the little things, and practice gratitude, all while building resilience for whatever life throws our way.
Whenever you make a mistake, are given a seemingly impossible task, or have no energy, how do you react? When you go into ‘panic-mode’ the problem tends to seem bigger than it is. You may even start to blame others, or even yourself for things that are going on. If you’re only able to focus only on the bad within a situation, this may be a sign of negative thinking. Negative thinking can have a big impact on your mental health and tends not to be very productive, often making things worse rather than better!
Other key identifiers are perfectionism, not accepting mistakes, and having polarising thoughts for example, things can only good or bad, no in-between. The problem is that nothing is perfect, and not everything can be simplified. Shifting your mindset and looking for the positives can make things feel easier to manage.
If you have a problem, how do you tackle it? First, start by visualising what you are hoping to achieve! That’s a positive thought right there, completing the task and reaping the rewards. Perhaps you want to have a clean room so that you can relax. Maybe you want to achieve a certain grade, or get a promotion at work! Hold that thought tight but don’t linger too long on it, because now you need to make it happen.
Taking control of a difficult task or situation is the most positive and productive action you can take. You can begin by cutting it down to manageable small tasks. So, cleaning the room becomes folding your clothes, hoovering the floor, dusting the desk, etc. You don’t need to do it all at once, you just need to take it step by step. Break things down into manageable chunks and make sure to track your progress! You can apply this to any scenario, and you’ll not only stay positive in the most challenging of times but also build resilience. Every obstacle is an opportunity for growth, coming out stronger each time.
Sometimes, it is hard to find the positive in the negative. This is when we can fall into a spiral of doubt, anger, sadness, and frustration. Finding even the tiniest bit of joy can help you get motivated again!
Imagine a scale in your mind, on one side are all the bad days, unwelcome news, increasing responsibilities, and all your negative thoughts and emotions. It’s not enough then to throw one good thing on the other side; you need to scale it up! Instead of, “This exam was difficult to get through and all I got was barely a pass.” Turn it into, “This exam was difficult, yet despite all odds, I did it! I can do anything!”
Practising daily gratitude, picking the little things in life that spark joy, writing them down in a journal or diary, and balancing self-care with your busy day can make a world of difference. You can even reward yourself for completing a task, even the tiniest of chores deserves the tiniest of treats! Using positive affirmations is a great way to build your self-confidence and it can also help you see things in a positive light. Not all these techniques will appeal to everyone, so find what works for you.
We talk a lot about how important it is to look on the bright side of things and to keep yourself motivated and feeling good… but the reality is, it’s okay not to feel positive all of the time. Toxic positivity is when you force yourself to be positive when you should acknowledge the negative emotions you may be experiencing. When something hits hard, you can’t always shrug it off, you need to understand your feelings and look at how you can take control.
Toxic positivity can be a subconscious reaction, flying instead of fighting. Typical traits are ignoring your problems, feeling guilt for any negative thoughts, hiding away from complex emotions, and dismissing other’s feelings. It can be a hard habit to break but recognising that feeling bad is okay is a good first step.
Positivity is complex, it can’t be forced. When life gets tough you can take action by planning, breaking things down into manageable chunks, or confronting it head-on. It’s also important for you to check-in with yourself and prioritise self-care. What can you do to ease some of the pressure or stress you’re feeling?
Not every obstacle in life can be predicted, you can be left wondering to yourself; What the Hell Just Happened? In 2012 Mark sustained a brain injury in a freak accident whilst we were on holiday and shortly after Jules was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. This Friday is Wear it Pink Day, one of the biggest fundraising events in the UK to help raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer research and support.
One of the biggest steps on the road to recovery was to publish our story. Anxiety, depression, and mental health issues can have a big impact on your wellbeing, and we don’t want anyone to feel like they are alone.
What the Hell Just Happened offers a valuable perspective on how to navigate these challenges with grace, humour, and compassion. So, if you’re looking for a book that will inspire and motivate you to keep pushing forward, no matter what life throws at you, pick up a copy today!
For more information on this topic
Follow us on social media!
The festive season is often described as “the most wonderful time of the year,” but the reality is that it doesn’t always
The Christmas countdown has officially begun! You might be feeling the excitement already… the holiday lights are up, your friends are talking
Storytelling is a powerful tool for learning and what better time to celebrate that than the holiday season! A time when we