Sometimes it can be difficult to get your head organised, especially when you’re stuck indoors. There are techniques you can use to help organise your mind and make sense of what’s going on. It doesn’t all have to be tasks either — it could be emotional and how you’re feeling. This could help get your emotions under control and think about them in a rational way, which in turn will help you work through them.
The technique I personally use is mind mapping:
At the centre is you, then add those thoughts, tasks or feelings that have been playing on your mind. It could be a combination of all of them.
You can do this by hand or digitally. You might find you’re better connected to the process if you do it by hand — though it can be messy.
Don’t be afraid to branch out into each one and further break them down.
After going through this exercise you’ll be able to start dealing with each one.
You should have short-term, medium-term and long-term goals.
Make a list of actions that you need to do in order to accomplish the objectives. Break them down further if need be. Make sure that they are SMART:
Specific
What is it you’re trying to accomplish? Pinpoint exactly what it is — for example, it could be to not feel anxious about flying.
Measurable
How will you know if it worked or not? Will you feel less anxious? Will it be one less thing off your mind to deal with?
Actionable
Make it realistic and actually doable — something you can take action on to meet the objective. For example, a parachute jump won’t be actionable if you haven’t done the training beforehand.
Relevant
Is it something that is relevant to the objective? Will this help you achieve the outcome you are hoping for? There’s no point training to be a pilot if all you want to do is a parachute jump.
Time-bound
Set a time frame in which you would like to complete the objective. Make the task time-critical — set deadlines for when you’d like to accomplish it by. This will help ensure you fulfil your objectives.
OK — I know it seems a bit like marketing, but it’s a practical and pragmatic way of dealing with all those things going around in your head.
