How are you feeling about the concept of Resilience?
I recently saw a post where the author shared that they were tired of being resilient and wanted to just stop and do nothing for a while...a sentiment that I'm sure resonates with many.
It occurred to me that we need a refresh on how to become and remain resilient because it is NOT mutually exclusive to taking time to do nothing – in fact, they are completely intertwined.
Resilience is our ability to bounce back quickly from setbacks and disappointment – physically, mentally, and emotionally – to remain optimistic and constructive in the face of failure; to adopt and maintain a learning mindset.
It requires balancing periods of extreme effort with recovery time to avoid tipping into overdrive and ultimately into burnout – a word that is tossed around lightly, but is actually a serious, life threatening condition.
Many people working at today’s demanding pace spend at least some time in overdrive – feeling they are unable to take their foot off the accelerator, even on weekends.
Hopefully, far fewer are facing true burnout.
Resilience relies on a strong immune system and well-functioning adrenal glands – which sit on top of our kidneys and respond to energy requirements by releasing the accelerator adrenalin into the blood stream when cortisol spikes.
The counteracting relaxation chemical is acetylcholine.
If we spend all day working flat out, our resilience will drop. We need to boost levels of the renewal chemicals Acetylcholine, DHEA, Serotonin and Oxytocin, as well as Dopamine and Testosterone, both while working and during periods of rest and recovery.
Applied strategically, resilience resources like physical fitness, good food/hydration, meditation, massage, sunshine, and effective processing of negative events in order to regain optimism, help determine how resilient we are and will be.
This simple device using the acronym REST (published in Physical Intelligence) will help you build resilience by strengthening your immune system and allowing your adrenal system to recharge:
🌿 Retreat
Block at least one short window in your daily schedule to take a break from all outside influences (including social media). It’s a great time to meditate.
🥗 Eat
No surprises here. Source and prepare fresh healthy meals – lean protein, whole grains, plenty of veggies, moderate sugar, low alcohol.
💤 Sleep
Multiple studies say we need 7-9 hours sleep but few get it. To improve sleep habits, try going to sleep a bit earlier, using power naps and waking naturally twice a week.
🌄 Treat
Replace the chips and candy with restorative treats such as reading a book, taking a walk/bike ride in nature, enjoying a hot bath, playing with the kids, whatever feels like a reward to you.
Let me know how you build and maintain your resilience 👇
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