A word from Guidance Resources: Resilience is more than coping; it’s about confronting crises and difficult situations without getting overwhelmed by them. Resilient people are better able to handle life’s stressors and adapt to changing situations. Being resilient can help protect you from depression, stress and anxiety, too.
Resilience can be strengthened and nurtured in adults and children by improving self-esteem, developing a strong system of social support and taking care of your physical and mental health.
1 – Maintain Strong Connections With Family and Friends
Having strong, positive relationships with others provides a cushion of acceptance and support that can help you weather tough times.
2 – Avoid Viewing Problems as Insurmountable
You have probably handled and survived difficult situations in the past—and maybe even learned from those difficult experiences. Learn from these past experiences and be confident that you will get through a current crisis, too.
3 – Accept That Change is Part of Living
The reality is that certain things cannot be controlled. What’s important is how you respond to the situation. Accepting the change makes it easier to move forward with your life.
4 – Keep a Long-term Perspective and Hopeful Outlook
Even though your feelings may be overwhelming at times, try to stay positive. Set goals for yourself so that you can feel productive and purposeful every day, and create longer-term goals so that you have a direction for your future.
5 – Take Care of Your Physical Health
It’s especially important when you are feeling stressed to continue to eat a healthy diet and get adequate sleep and regular exercise. Alcohol and caffeine can increase stress levels; avoid or reduce consumption. View information on free online fitness and other employee wellness programming.
6 – Take Care of Your Mental Health
Support is available to help you cope and manage your mental well-being. View mental well-being support resources, including one-on-one counseling, Zoom support groups, and a special WashU Coping with COVID hotline for frontline healthcare workers.
7 – Get Support and Resources From Your Employee Assistance Program
If you need help dealing with a personal crisis, or would like additional resources and strategies for improving your resilience, contact your employee assistance program for confidential counseling and other services. View information on WashU’s Work-Life Solutions program.
8 – Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a way to access your inner resources and move towards greater balance, control and peace of mind, and, designed to give you practical coping skills to deal with everyday stress. Through the employee wellness program, Wellness Connection, WashU’s mindfulness consultant provides group sessions for departments requesting support, as well as drop-in Zoom sessions and a Move into Mindfulness ongoing series. Join the virtual mindfulness community, conversation and care sessions.