By Mark Wilkinson, Business and Health and Happiness Coach
We made it! It’s 2021 and whether you were happy to see the back of 2020 or content with what you were able to achieve, I think we can all agree it was certainly one for the record books. As we’ve entered another lockdown, for many it may feel as though you are surrounded by negativity, from inner turmoil to media adversity, and we can sometimes let this get on top of us.
With this in mind, it is time to get off on the right foot this year and power into 2021 with a positive mindset and a motivational outlook on life. Cue, ‘The Negativity Fast’. A simple concept by which you spend 30 days limiting your exposure to negativity that may be present in your life and instead focus on the positives and the things you are most grateful for.
Mark Wilkinson, The Health and Happiness Coach shares his tips for a successful negativity fast and how to fill your life with positivity and gratitude instead.
Limit your exposure to the media
Watching and reading the news is important for all of us to keep up to date, but with 24 hour channels and even news apps on our phones, meaning a constant stream of information at our fingertips, if we let it, it can become overwhelming. The media also has a habit of having a negative undertone, it’s just the way it is, their viewing figures go up when there is a tragic event, so they are the effect, us tuning in is the cause. So, by limiting your exposure to it, you can help maintain your positive thoughts throughout the day. It might be that you allocate a certain time or just make a conscious effort to cut down the time you spend watching the news; whichever works for you, this will help to limit the negative thoughts and feelings you allow into your life.
Keep a gratitude journal
Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in day to day life and the things that get on our nerves, that we forget to take a step back and be grateful for all the things we have. During your negativity fast, take some time out each day or once a week to sit down and take note of the things you are truly grateful for. This connection with the positive aspects of your life will really help you to not only stay grounded and put things into perspective, but also ensure you are keeping those negative thoughts at bay by filling your mind and body with happy and positive feelings instead.
Cut down on social media
I don’t think there are many people in the world today that don’t spend a good few hours every day on social media. For many it’s a default time filler and the fact that it is so readily available on your phone can mean we spend hours scrolling our feeds and analysing the posts, photos and followers. We all know social media, whilst it has a huge amount of benefits, can be a very unhealthy obsession for some and can be the epicentre of negativity for many people.
Manage your feed, take some time away from the apps, delete them from your phone if need be, only look at them on your desktop, or set screen time limits on your mobile. Whatever you need to do to limit social media use will help you on your negativity fast, as it stops you from allowing those negative thoughts of guilt, jealousy, frustration and anger that you may sometimes feel when looking at certain posts online. Don’t let those feelings attach themselves to you and instead remind yourself that your life is yours, you can own it and make it whatever you desire it to be.
Surround yourself with positive influence
Positive people make you feel better, it’s as simple as that. Surround yourself with those people in your life that make you feel upbeat, inspired, loved and supported and your own positivity will rise as a result. Write a list of all the people who inspire you, they might be people you know personally or people you aspire to be similar to. By acknowledging what makes you feel positive and who you can surround yourself with to hit your goals, will help you achieve them.
This positivity doesn’t just stop at you. Once you are able to realise what it is in your life that brings you negative thoughts and feelings, and also what makes you feel inspired, as sure as night follows day you will yourself become a more positive influence on everyone around you.