How to Stay Mentally Focused During Life's Unexpected Challenges
- Teigs .
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
"You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realise this, & you will find strength." - Marcus Aurelius
Life has a way of throwing surprises your way...& they aren’t always the fun kind. This year I've been thrown a few life challenges - natural disasters, career curveballs, insurance headaches - these types of scenarios can be overwhelming. But before I spiralled, I forced myself to take a step back, breathe & remember that I am not powerless.
It's really hard, but focusing your mind on the right things can help you keep moving through the challenges that life inevitably throws at you. Now I promise you, this isn't going to be a hippy dippy post, just a bunch of my observations, ideas, podcasts & audiobooks that have really helped me keep moving through my challenges this year.
Acknowledge Changes & Emotions
I've been really into Stoic philosophy after coming across a podcast episode with Ryan Holiday in it. For me, the ideas have helped with reflecting, getting out of my own head & seeing the bigger picture. Recognising & naming your own feelings is the first step to help you focus on what you can control.
What can I control? I repeat this to myself often now.
Acknowledging your emotions allows you to make deliberate choices. Next time you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, try taking a five-minute break to regroup your thoughts before taking any actions to help you regain clarity & plan your next steps.
Podcasts & audiobooks I am enjoying that are influenced by Stoic ideals are:
The Daily Stoic: Ryan Holiday's Podcast
Stoic at Work: Ancient Wisdom to Make Your Job Less Annoying Audiobook by Annie Lawson.
Write Down Your List of Tasks (what can you control/do)
When faced with challenges, breaking down your responsibilities can help clear your mind & focus on what you can control.
Create Categories and Priorities:
Categorise your tasks - you can bunch/batch tasks together like "Bills", "Book Appointments", "Family", "Business" etc...
Prioritise - to action this week, next week, next month & next year etc. Start with the tasks that demand urgent attention like paying bills, buying food or attending to health issues & make your way down the priority list from there.
Sometimes just having a list to look at helps to organise your scattered thoughts just enough to feel a bit of calm. Then marking them off the list gives you a mini dopamine boost.
Mindset Matters
"We should always be asking ourselves: Is this something that is, or is not, in my control?" - Epictetus
Your mindset can influence so much, including how you handle unexpected changes.
Focus on Gratitude: Reflect on what you appreciate in your life & write it down each morning or afternoon. Things like, appreciating your supportive friends, noting down a positive thing that happened in the day, listing what you're proud of doing or getting through recently, reflecting on good memories.
Seek Support: If it isn't something that's within your control could others help you, actually or emotionally. Sharing challenges can help emotionally, & actually, & can result in new insights from the person who is supporting you.
Stay Self-Compassion & be self-aware
"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates
Review & Adjust
After implementing strategies to deal with unexpected changes, take a moment to assess your progress. Create a habit of reviewing your productivity to see what worked & what needs adjusting.
Adapt as Needed: Life is ever-changing, so be open to tweaking your methods. For instance, if certain time-blocking techniques aren’t working, experiment with different approaches.
Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge even the small victories. Celebrating achievements boosts your motivation & prepares you for upcoming challenges.
"Happiness & freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, & some things are not." - Epictetus
Moving Forward
Unexpected challenges can be stressful in life, but they also offer a chance for personal growth. Prioritise being mindful, organise efficiently & keep reflecting. Acknowledge your progress no matter how small & trust in your ability to navigate whatever life presents.
Control what you can, let go of what you can’t, & take pride in small victories as you move forward with resilience & confidence. It’s all about finding stability amid life’s unpredictability.
"When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love." - Marcus Aurelius
As always, thank you so much for supporting my blog, make sure you checkout the related posts & Instagram for more ideas on staying Simply Productive 💜
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💜 T
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