How I Got My Mind Right for The Second Half of 2020
I became happier and more productive as a result
I came into this year with huge expectations. I ended 2019 on a semi positive note and was excited about what this decade had in store. I’m sure I’m not alone. Towards the end of the holidays it feels like everyone was upbeat and optimistic for 2020.
And then 2020 happened.
This year is self explanatory for everyone. I feel like after this year is over, we’ll be referencing it for the rest of our lives and hopefully by then we’ll all be in a more positive mood.
It’s hard to admit I was far from mentally healthy from March to June. There’s so much hate and toxicity clogging the airwaves of this country in social media and the news that it’s hard to just keep on keeping on and smile while taking in so much shocking viral content. It’s even harder when you’re trapped indoors with nothing but screens in front of you all the time. I know I’m not alone in feeling this way.
But I’m okay now. I’m more productive than ever and happier than I was a few months ago. I’m filled with positive vibes even though obstacles are still constantly coming my way.
Hopefully there are more people like me who are doing better now but for those who still need a helping hand out of the negativity, here’s what I did that worked.
Stay away from the news
During the beginning stages of the pandemic, I checked the news a lot because I had no idea what was going on. My big mistake was assuming that the people who ran the news knew what was going on. They don’t.
News exists to get clicks and make money from advertising. They have no obligation to the truth. These people earn salaries to write something to get a reaction out of people so they keep coming back. They’ll oftentimes frame things in the worst way possible.
Cancel social media
Almost everyone you ask who’s deleted social media will tell you that they feel better mentally after doing it. Social media has turned into a warzone and much like everything else, the most toxic content gets the most attention. A good example will be found in the white house.
I know some people will say it’s so hard to just delete social media, so here’s a middle ground you can find. Uninstall the apps on your phone if you have to and just use the watered down browser version of the app. A worse UI will help ween you off. For YouTube I’ve installed a comment blocker. Don’t open links you get in group chats.
Read more self help books
This is probably what helped me the most and helped me commit to staying away from the news and social media. There’s just something about reading stories about someone else’s successful journey that gives us hope in the toughest of times. You don’t even need to agree with everything that they say or their methods. You just need to know that hard times come and go as they always have and that people consistently come out of them stronger and more positive.
At the end of the day, there’s still a ton of uncertainty left for the rest of this year, and even though all our leaders are trying to assure us that 2021 will be better, that’s far from a given.
The three things I’ve shared above are what helped me the most and it may work for some but not for others. The main theme is to commit to positivity — add things to your life to attract and keep positive energy and remove the things in your life that take it away.
