When Life Feels Out of Control

There are times in human history where the world has to face a challenge on a mass scale. World wars, political revolutions, financial crises, and as is the case currently, major pandemics.  

It’s also common that many of these challenges co-exist with one another. Because of how world-altering an event is, one major challenge may create another.

We are currently going through one of those major challenges in human history.

No matter where you are reading this post from across the world, it’s likely that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting your life. 

You’ve probably had to alter your lifestyle significantly. Requiring you to avoid public gatherings, changing your work schedule, and hopefully not, having yourself or loved ones fighting the illness.  

As a secondary effect, your finances have likely taken a hit. Investment markets are down significantly in anticipation of a likely worldwide global recession. Your job may be slowing and the businesses around you are probably trying to figure out how to manage a drop in demand. 

Life feels very out of control for most of us. 

These are the times where it can be a struggle to live a simple and effective life. Our emotions get the best of us, and our inner voice tells us to panic. 

But it’s also precisely during these times that we need to be intentional with our lives. To place focus on the simple living principles that will help us get through this period of time, and go on to live a better life on the other end of it. 

7 Simple Living Tips for Stressful Times

1. Determine Your Control – With major events outside of your control unfolding, it’s easy to forget what’s in our control. Focus your time on impacting what you can do, instead of what you can’t.
2. Limit Your News – It’s very tempting to check in with the news continually during worldwide events like this. However, limiting your news to once or twice a day can help keep a positive mindset. 
3. Build Perspective – This will pass. Humans have gone through this before, many times. Markets have gone through this before, many times. Try to keep this in perspective with the greater timeline of life. 
4. Focus On What’s important – How are you, your family, and your close friends doing? During stressful times, it’s good to focus on the important people and values in your life. 
5. Find Positives – While in the midst of a bad situation, I try to find the positives. During this viral pandemic, I’m going to be cooking at home more and eating better. I’ll probably also get outside more and enjoy some solitude in nature. 
6. Manage Your Finances – Money often becomes a stressful thing during crises. Expect that you may have to tap into savings, and/or your investments will be volatile. Just don’t panic, and continue to manage your finances based on principles you set when times were good. 
7. Be Present – Above all, remain present. Take this day to day. Moment to moment. Worrying about the future is not going to benefit your current situation.