Optimism is the light at the end of the tunnel

Sep 15, 2020 | Nutrition, Personal Training

Optimism is the light at the end of the tunnel: 5 Ways to Increase It Today

We are living in a world of unknowns right now with many people still out of their office, kids doing distance learning from home, and the economy in a recession, all while facing COVID-19. 

The question is, are you facing the situation head on or falling into a slump as it washes over us?

Of course, I’m hoping you say the former, though I know that’s not the reality as I speak with clients day in and day out.

Unfortunately, the clients who are dealing with our situation poorly are proving how optimism escapes them. These people are losing sight of what keeps them going each day. They stop working out, they fill their stomachs with junk food and alcohol, they are bingeing Netflix more than normal (because some bingeing is, of course, acceptable), and they are looking at the day to day, not what’s to come. They are stuck in the dark, dank tunnel. 

Optimism is the light at the end of the tunnel. 

If you are an optimist, you are probably staying with a routine every day. You’re working out and eating well. You’re keeping in touch with those you love, even if you can’t see them on the regular. These people are flexible with how they deal with the day-to-day and with their future prospects. 

I am sure it comes as no surprise that science has proven that optimistic people are healthier, have greater career successes, better relationships, and greater pursuit of their goals (1). 

Just because our lives have been upended in recent months doesn’t mean that you can’t still look on the bright side. Here are 5 ways to get your optimism flowing: 

  1.      Look on the bright side by using visualization. Remember that thing called neuroplasticity I spoke about a while       
             back    ? Visualization helps rewire your brain to be more positive
  2.      Surround yourself with positive people. There’s nothing worse than a Debbie Downer friend. 
  3.      Ditch the doldrums of the news and social media. Social media has been proven to increase depression (2). Who   
             needs that? 
  4.      Focus on what you can control, what you can change, and what you can accept. Create new routines that work for
             you NOW and start to focus on those things that are in your control so you can accept them and change them if     
             that’s an option. 
  5.      Take up journaling to focus on the good each day. Just 5 minutes a day will be enough to show you what successes,
             joy, and gratitude you had each day. 

If your optimism is lacking, try just one of these suggestions to start. It’ll be better than where you are now. 

If you need more accountability or an outside influence to help point out some optimism to you that’s part of what I do as a nutritional counselor. Since nutrition is more than just food, it’s overall health and wellbeing. It’s all connected. Click here to shoot me a message and get started.  

1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364661314000333
2) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/da.22466