There have been a lot of ups and downs for many of us in the past few years, and together with the rising cost of living, you may be left feeling anxious or stressed out. It’s totally understandable, and while none of us has a crystal ball, there are some things we can do to make ourselves feel more positive about the future. Here, NHS GP, author and podcaster Dr Radha Modgil shares her top tips for staying positive when challenging times come your way.

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Why can it feel so tough to keep a positive mindset during difficult times?

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No one is immune to feeling down or stressed out when things are tough, especially when it comes to money worries. We all have our own emotional reserve – a bit like the battery on your phone – and this can change depending on our circumstances. When we face a challenge, it can feel like some of our charge gets run down, so it’s important to top it up regularly – things like sleeping enough, eating a balanced diet, and exercising all help us to feel good.

“Hold on to your ability to hope and know that things will get better,” says Dr Radha. “Sometimes, when we face something difficult, our brains start telling us that if things aren’t happening or changing as we would like them to right now, they never will, and we can get caught in a cycle of catastrophising.” That’s not to say that you must be relentlessly optimistic or unrealistic, but stay open to the possibility of things improving. That faith can be a key part of how to have a positive mindset.

It can also be helpful to manage your own expectations and the pressure that you put on yourself – whether that’s financially, through having the latest clothes or an expensive phone, or knowing what you want to do for a career. Your happiness and wellbeing are more important than passing trends – and trust us, no-one has everything figured out in their teens, or even their 20s or 30s for that matter!

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How can change and uncertainty affect our mental and physical wellbeing?

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You’re definitely not alone if the pace of the world feels a little overwhelming sometimes. Results from the 2022 Prince’s Trust NatWest Youth Index showed that young people’s happiness and confidence were at their lowest point in 13 years. And when one or more key areas of your life – such as family, friendships, finances, school, university, work, and health – changes it can be easy to lose your sense of balance. “Emotionally, this might make us feel anxious and begin preempting things going wrong before they even happen to try to protect ourselves,” explains Dr Radha. “Physically, change and uncertainty might drain our energy and leave us feeling really tired.”

This kind of uncertainty can make us want to withdraw, and as a result, the things we often think of as the ‘nice to haves’ like socialising and exercising get dropped. But they’re also the things that can help us through tough times, so “we should try our hardest to focus in on them,” Dr Radha adds. That doesn’t mean adding more pressure financially, either – get creative when it comes to making plans. Want a much-needed catch-up with your friends? Instead of going out to the cinema, pick a film you can stream at home

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