The past few months, the news has been all COVID-19, all the time. We’re concerned about shutdowns, and now as we slowly get back to work, we’re worried about CDC regulations and still worried about our safety.
As a business owner, it’s been tough to maintain a positive frame of mind. However, a positive attitude is the best way to support your team and make proactive, rational decisions to handle the weeks and months of changes and adjustments ahead.
The Science of Positive Thinking
Here’s what science has to say about positive thinking:
- It Increases Resilience – Positivity during times of stress increases resilience and fosters faster cardiovascular recovery. Your heart rate slows and blood pressure stabilizes more quickly.
- Boosts Immunity – A positive state of mind helps you to better manage the symptoms of illness.
- Helps You Think Clearly – A positive attitude improves problem-solving, decision making, creative thinking and objectivity. A positive attitude can help you to view your situation constructively, bolster morale, and help you recognize opportunities.
“Your attitude tends to be the average of the 5 people you spend the most amount of time with.”
– Rick Lambert, Sales Performance Coach, selltoWIN
What You Can Do
While this crisis can make staying positive challenging, there are things you can do to promote positivity, both for you and your employees.
- Acknowledge Your Feelings – Acknowledge what you’re feeling. Acknowledging stress or anxiety can help you to gain control of these feelings. This can help you shift your perspective.
- Prioritize Facts – Maintain a level head. Take a rational perspective. Ask yourself what degree this situation is interfering with your life and business, what precautions you can take, and how to manage negative emotions. Prioritizing the facts keeps you well informed.
- Practice Gratitude – Simply being grateful for the positive things and people in your life can have permanent effects on your brain. To help your team, consider implementing a gratitude practice in their day as well.
- Establish a Daily Routine – Keep some normalcy in your life by maintaining your usual daily routine as much as possible. Get up at your regular time, go through your typical morning ritual. If the gym was a part of your morning, go for a walk, or jump on the bike. Shower, get dressed, and start your workday as usual.
Staying positive can have powerful effects on your brain, and help to keep you on track during this challenging time. Focusing on being positive and mindful of what you can (and can’t!) control will help you, your team, and your business weather the storm.
