Change Your Perspective & Attack the Day!
by Taylor Smith, CHOP5 Wellness Blogger
“Attack the Day” —–a phrase I hold very close to my heart.
Words I repeat daily.
Words I wanted above my door, so I asked one of my artistic roommates to paint them on a canvas for me. Words that serve as a powerful reminder when I wake up. Words that echo in my mind before I leave my room each day.
The Meaning Behind ‘Attack the Day’
To me, attacking the day means to embrace my day and the chaos within it. It means to not go through the motions or get overwhelmed by the day. To go into every moment with confidence in yourself and belief that everything will be okay. To successfully adapt to your constantly changing schedule without dreading or fearing certain parts of it. To be at peace in the unknown and unpredictability of life.
Looking back, I see how I sabotaged myself for so long. My anxiety led me to believe that I was not capable of getting through certain days, let alone having an awesome day. My anxiety convinced me that every day was a battle, and the goal was simply to survive it. However, that mindset forced me to limit myself and my potential, whether it was subconscious or not. That mindset forced me to miss out on what life has to offer if you make the most of it.
The Power of Your Perspective
After lots of self-reflection, mental growth and experiences, I can now say I truly understand the power of your mindset. The power of self-talk. The power of choosing which thoughts to believe and which to ignore. The power of reframing your thoughts to have a positive perspective on your day ahead.
Choose Your Mindset!
Now, when I wake up and my thoughts about the day ahead or the future become negative or waves of stress roll over me, I force myself to close my eyes and take at least three full deep breaths. I remind myself that I need to embrace all the desirable AND undesirable parts of my day. It will allow me to live in the moment. To remember how capable I am. To show up as the best version of myself. To go through my day with a genuine smile on my face.
Positive Implications
I’ve noticed that when I have the mentality that I’m going to not only accept, but enthusiastically attack my day, it changes my whole perspective on the day. It changes how I approach my day. It positively influences my thoughts and boosts my mental health. It enables me to perform my best and be my most authentic self in any situation. This mentality allows me to thrive in unideal situations. In the chaos.
A Life-Changing Phrase
So, if you ask me what ‘attack the day’ means to me, I’ll tell you those three words changed my whole outlook on life. They changed me…
AND they can change you to if you’re open to developing a new mindset/perspective!
Tips to Change Your Perspective & Attack the Day!
You may say, “all of that sounds great, but how specifically do I change my perspective and attack the day?” Well, that is a wonderful question and here are some answers to get you started on shifting your mindset:
- Pick things to look forward to in your day (can be little or big things!)
- Romanticize the little things—-whether it’s your morning walk or cup of coffee.
- Set an alarm so you do not snooze through the whole day.
- Make a general plan the night before of what you need or want to accomplish tomorrow—-setting intentions is huge!
- Ground yourself in the present moment, not the past or future (meditation or deep breaths can help).
- Repeat positive affirmations to yourself in the morning.
- Listen to your favorite upbeat music when you wake up!
- Do one quick thing that makes you happy right when you wake up (maybe it’s reading a few pages of a good book or listening to a podcast or petting your dog).
- Practice positive self-talk.
- When negative thoughts creep in, choose to reframe them. Take back control of your mind.
- Remember that negative thoughts are just thoughts, not reality. Be optimistic!
- Remind yourself of when you survived a hard day or how it wasn’t as bad as you imagined!
- Talking out your thoughts to a trusted person in your life or therapist may help.
- Talk to your doctor about how you’re feeling.
- Find the silver linings in each day!
- Keep a gratitude journal.
- Think about all that you get to do, not have to do. Life is a gift, not an obligation.
- Visualize yourself having a great day.
- Prioritize sleep and health.
Remember, take one step at a time. Don’t put pressure on yourself. Just do what feels right for you and Attack your Day!
New Year’s Intentions Update:
This month I especially focused on my new year’s intention of prioritizing sleep. In general, prioritizing sleep is important because it plays an immense factor in your physical, mental and emotional health and well-being. However, I especially strive to get enough sleep during the school year. The fall is an important time for me to follow through on my intention because not only does college start again, but I have extremely early lacrosse practices every morning. Making sleep a priority not only allows me to properly function throughout the day, but also enables me to feel my best and perform on the field and in the classroom. I can proudly say, that I respect my sleep schedule and make sure to go to bed earlier since my college schedule demands early mornings.
