It’s safe to say that staying hopeful during the last year has been challenging. Across the world, we’ve been dealing with a global pandemic. In the U.S., social unrest, political agendas, and even terrifying riots have made headlines. 

On a personal level, your own hard times might be taking a continual toll. Maybe you lost your job due to the pandemic or face the loss of a loved one. 

Whatever the case, hard times will always come. When they do, it’s vital to know how to stay hopeful. In doing so, you can work through those times and come out stronger on the other side. 

Hope sometimes seems impossible to have. Thankfully, there are practical ways to hold onto it. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to stay hopeful, even during hard times. 

2. Be Aware of Your Own Emotions

The more you know and understand about yourself, the better. Far too many people try to push down negative or challenging emotions. While that might work for a while, emotions will always demand to be felt. So, they might “bubble up” at another time and feel even worse. 

By being aware of your emotions and allowing them to come forward, you can actively work through what they mean. You can’t control what you feel in life. But, you can control how you respond. 

2. Staying Hopeful Often Means Finding Ways to Be Grateful

Sometimes, when things feel hopeless, it can help you recognize the good things in your life. That includes everything from your strengths to the support of the people around you. 

One of the best ways to do that is to keep a gratitude journal. It’s something you can carry with you wherever you go. Whenever you feel grateful for something or recognize a positive feature of your life, write it down. Doing so will help you to feel better at the moment. 

Plus, the journal allows you to look back on everything you have to be grateful for. It can be a beneficial resource when you’re feeling low. 

3. Get More Sleep

When it comes to practicality, it doesn’t get more practical than sleep. But, how does getting enough sleep make you more hopeful? 

When you choose to get enough sleep, you’re giving your mind and body a chance to recharge. That can significantly improve your mental health and make it easier to process your emotions. It will help you to strengthen your emotional resilience. So, even when things seem hard, you will have the ability to “bounce back.” 

As a bonus, getting enough sleep has a handful of other benefits. It can boost your mood, improve your relationships, and increase your focus. As a result, it’s easier to feel better about the world around you and be more hopeful, in general. 

4. Breathe Deeply

Does the state of the world or a personal life situation feel overwhelming? 

Pause. Take a breath. Now, take another. 

Sometimes, a seemingly hopeless situation can make you panic or start thinking extremely negative thoughts. By taking a break and focusing on your breathing, you can push those negative thoughts away. This approach is known as mindfulness. It’s the practice of focusing on the present moment, instead of worrying about the future or dwelling on the past.

You cannot control the thoughts that enter your head. But,  staying hopeful with mindfulness, you can choose to let them go.

5. Do Something for Someone Else

Doing something kind for someone else has two practical benefits. 

First, even the smallest of gestures can help to make someone’s day. You never know what people are going through. So, doing something kind can make a big difference for them. 

The other benefit? It can help you to feel better, too. Doing something for someone else can boost your mood, help you recognize that the world can still be a good place, and inspire you to keep doing more. When everything else seems hopeless, you can be the one to provide a bit of hope.

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There is no doubt that times are hard right now. By keeping these practical tips in mind, you can continue to stay hopeful and work through hard times toward something better and brighter. If you need more support staying hopeful please read more about depression treatment and reach out soon for a consultation.