Change can be really hard to accept, especially when we don’t have any choice in the matter.

Nothing in recent history has made that as clear as the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are a few tips to make the change feel easier:

• Accept the change in front of you. Sometimes we get stuck resisting the change, wanting things to go back to how they were, or wishing we were in a different situation. The resistance can keep us from moving forward. Using a technique called radical acceptance helps us to acknowledge our present situation without passing judgment or criticizing. This means saying “yes” to life, even as it is. 
• Identify what feels best and works for you. If keeping a schedule and routine helps you stay organized, then plan out your days. Does exercise help you process your thoughts and burn off some of your frustrated energy? Plan a time to workout, run or walk. If you feel better when you have a hygiene routine, make time to shower, put on makeup, or brush your hair. Do you have a favorite outfit or item of clothing? Wear it. When we feel overwhelmed by change or uncertainty we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. It can take a lot of extra energy to try and come up with a brand new self-care routine or fancy new habits. Stick with what you know for right now. 
• Give yourself a break. What you are experiencing is hard and new and challenging. Practice self-compassion, treating yourself with kindness during these tough times. Remember you don’t have to function at 100 percent all the time. Consider this permission that you are allowed to do less.