The New Normal Series: Mindset

How to stay on track with your wellness goals as our routines change.
Published August 9, 2021

Having the right mindset is key to achieving your goals, but we know it can be hard to maintain.

Especially with the stress of things resembling a new normal, you may be finding it hard to stick with your goals or keep yourself in the right headspace. That’s okay – take the pressure off yourself and give yourself grace. You can always get back on track.

“When you fall off and make a bad choice, slow down, take a deep breath. You always have another opportunity to feel better,” says Tara Stiles, founder of Strala Yoga and author of Clean Mind, Clean Body: A 28 Day Plan for Physical, Mental and Spiritual Self-Care.

“Just like you would take the hand of a small child and help them cross the street, have that same compassion for yourself. You need your helping hand, your guidance and your forgiveness. You deserve to feel better.”

How to adapt to changing routines

As our routines change once again, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to adapt right away.

“Take it easy,” says Stiles.

“There is no need to rush and do things you’re not comfortable with. Make your self-care your priority. When you feel overwhelmed, slow down, simplify your schedule and begin again,” she says.

“Don’t worry so much about what you see everyone else doing and feel like you have to be doing the same. Take care of you, and you’ll be on a great path.”

How to take your lockdown strengths into ‘the new normal’

There might be some strengths or achievements you developed during lockdown that you’d like to make part of your life going forward. Consider taking a moment to reflect on what habits you’re appreciating right now, and how you can maintain them as things reopen.

“It’s important to reflect and acknowledge your growth and strength and strengths that you gained that surprised you,” says Stiles.

“In tai chi there is a cool concept that breaks down to ‘take yourself with yourself’. It has to do with body position in any situation we are in,” she explains. “Move from your middle and you’ll take your strengths with you. Bend your knees a bit and change your angle when you feel things are too intense. Don’t suffer a bad body position in any situation. When we slide back into old habits, we forget to take ourselves along. Bring your new strengths with you wherever you go by allowing yourself to be in a good body position, bend your knees so you are in a soft and ready stance, and of course, allow your breath to move your body.”

Stiles adds that wellness isn’t only an activity you do sometimes.

“Let your overall mindset believe in a better way for yourself,” she says. “Every moment is a chance to make a better choice. How you handle yourself in a challenging conversation is a choice. Soften and breathe through challenge instead of collecting more tension. Stay[ing] soft and moveable is a great process to help you make the best choices every moment along the way.”