KSS October eKourier

FEATURE

IF YOU WANT THAT RAINBOW, YOU’VE GOT TO PUT UP WITH THE RAIN! The way we handle ourselves during challenging times may in some cases make people feel personally overwhelmed or stressed. State and country lockdowns due to the current Covid-19 pandemic is a clear example of the way we might handle situations and possibly in a negative way. However, have you ever thought our current lockdown practices in place in New Zealand and most Australian States can also be a positive experience.

N egative thoughts are the most influential and emotional experi- ences in our lives. Since the start of 2020 and the on-set of Covid-19 the way we conduct ourselves has changed, and the effect on our family, friends, acquaintances and us an individuals has created an everlasting impression. It’s how we handle and motivate ourselves during difficult times that will influence our lives and the way we act forever.

- Commence an easy to maintain exercise program (it could just be a simple 10 minute walk each day) because without physical relaxation we breed stress and anxiety in our body right from the very start of the day. - Don’t check your Mobile Phone, Newspapers online, Television etc. and their message contents until later in the day. Technology can drain your mind and sap energy levels. Between the news and social media we’re all feeling saturated by Covid updates. Yes, it’s important to stay informed but try to limit your media intake. If you’re feeling isolated, take a break from the media and spend time on another ‘enjoyable’ activities such as making your own music playlist. Listen to some calming music and sing along to those songs you like the most. - Play with your pets or spend time with family members. It helps to start the day on a joyful note. - Wake up to a clean household. If it’s not clean then do something about it. If you’re suddenly spending a lot more time at home de clutter your ‘castle’ putting the excess stuff in storage! - Smile and consider what makes you happy for the upcoming day because this will create happy emotions. - Practicing positive thinking every day. You may also become less critical of the world around you when your state of mind is generally optimistic, You're - Set your alarm to an uplifting tune and something that won’t ‘jerk’ you awake.

better able to handle everyday stress in a more constructive way. Remember positive people do positive things. - Do something creative such as writing a KSS Blog, a poem on your iPad, drawing on a sketch pad, editing a photo on your tablet or just work/think about the fun things in life. - Download a Chess or Scrabble App on your phone to play with friends or even strangers. Gardening, it just may need some ‘Rainbow’ loving too. - Practice gratitude. Celebrate the things you have and enjoy the small things in life. Some Team Members may find it difficult to see their ‘Rainbow’ (we all have positive things happening in our lives somewhere). Sharing your thoughts with others can be calming and rewarding. The most important thing to remember that the way we address the first steps in any new day may influence the journey we take for the rest of any given day. Yes, you can put up with the rain if you think positively and address challenges that come your way. Whether it’s an encouraging message from family or friends, we can all use a little motivation and inspiration these days.

The ‘Rainbow’ will disappear if you allow it to happen!

What can be disturbing is that our early experiences during the pandemic can be quite negative and as humans we can allow these influences to continually control our behaviours.

Start your day with A positive Rainbow:

- Sleeping habits need to be consistent. Don’t oversleep when you’re not rostered to work. - Our first meal intake needs to be delicious and something that we enjoy making. Consider making a homemade meal as good nutrition is always important, and during stressful times there’s nothing better than a tasty, healthy, homemade meal, especially if you’ve made it yourself. During lockdown periods, it may be challenging for people to get the right ingredients so make it simple, perhaps even order missing ingredients on-line for delivery.

After the rain subsides we can all look for our ‘Rainbow In the day’.

Wayne Birch VIC Operations Manager

17 Kennards Kourier Oct 2021