Anticipate the comedown
Vora believes expecting and anticipating anti-climaxes in the lead up to big milestones can lessen their impact. “Anti-climaxes are just as common as post-holiday blues,” she points out. ” If we normalise and plan for feeling this way, we can limit the impact on our mental health.”
If you are aware of a potential upcoming anti-climax, Vora recommends scheduling an activity to look forward to soon after the event has finished. Think planning some time with friends and family, attending a concert or even a cooking class. Vora says, “This can act as a reminder that other aspects of life can be just as fulfilling.”
Normalise the experience
Experiencing an anti-climax can be a pretty isolating time. Vora points out that there is an increased social pressure to hit social milestones. Our culture depicts these achievements as the be-all and end-all, and because of how these moments are portrayed by others, we expect to feel a certain way. When we don’t feel as expected it can be confusing and feed into feelings of comparison.
Vora says the key is to “normalise feelings of low mood, confusion, and self-doubt around anti-climaxes.” That is something many people experience and connecting with others may be beneficial. “It can help to engage with friends and influencers online who share similar experiences to feel less isolated with your own emotions,” Vora suggest.
Ford believes practising self-compassion can also be helpful at this time. “It’s important to be gentle with ourselves at this time, to try to avoid the comparison trap, and see where we can start to reflect on the small steps and victories that we might bot have acknowledged along the way.” She says.
Focus on sustained progress
“We have to remember that from an evolutionary perspective, our brains are wired to keep us alive and evolving, not happy and content,” Chambers points out. “For the majority of our existence, we were prey, and this means we are not always deliberate in celebrating even the biggest achievement.”
The solution, Chambers believes, is to cherish each moment. “Instead of downplaying what we have achieved or moving straight to the next item on the list, mindfully cherish the moment and properly reflect on the gain you’ve made,” he advises.
“Reward yourself in a positive way and recognise your progress. That way, you won’t fall into the fallacy of having ‘made it.’ Instead, you’ll see that you are happily ‘making it’ along the journey that is an entire lifetime.”
Article curtesy of Readers Digest. Author Victoria Stokes