Mastering the Bounce Back: 6 Steps to Rebuilding a Life Knocked Sideways

When life takes a detour, you can recover your rhythm with intention and grace.

Something as simple as getting groceries is an important step toward recovering a healthy routine. Images By Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images

Every now and then, life can throw us off track. For a while things seem to be humming along smoothly—our routines are in check, we’re making consistent progress each day, and we’re doing pretty well staying on top of responsibilities. That is until—bam! Sickness strikes the household, we go on vacation, we prepare for and deliver a big speech, the water heater at home gives out, or we dedicate our time and energy to helping a loved one in need. All sorts of positive or negative out-of-the-ordinary things can occur. Such is life.

On the one hand, these interruptions provide variety to life and can delight and inspire our existence. On the other hand, we sometimes face suffering and must strengthen our wills to endure through challenges.

When the dust settles and it’s time to get back to a regular routine, how well you bounce back can have a significant impact on your life’s overall trajectory. Life will always ebb and flow in positive and negative ways. Here are six things to consider the next time you’re called to bounce back from extraordinary circumstances.

Sleep

First things first. Whenever you’re just catching your breath after a whirlwind, out-of-the-ordinary, off-the-rails period, you will need to rest. You may have a pile of emails and an even bigger pile of laundry and all manner of responsibilities to sort through, but you should first catch up on your sleep. Give your body the rest it’s craving, and then wake up refreshed and ready to tackle what awaits you head-on. First, sleep.

Square 1

Once you’ve rested, you can begin digging yourself out of the piles that have accumulated. Make your way through what you can do one step at a time. Put on a load of laundry, unpack your luggage, place an order for groceries, start deleting emails, open all the mail, and aim to get your life back to square one. Depending on the extent of the chaos that just subsided, this may take a few days or a week. Do what you can when you can, and with each step forward, appreciate the progress you’re making.

Nutrition

Make sure the groceries you order include nutrient-dense food options to get your energy back up and running. Make healthy choices for your meals, opting for things like fresh vegetables and clean proteins. Drink plenty of water and nourish your body well.

Correspondence

Take time to catch up on all of your personal and professional correspondence. Check in on your financial accounts. Say hello to your neighbors. Call your mom. Reconnect in all the ways you need to as you reenter regular, day-to-day life.

Assess

Take time to reflect on the experience you’ve just had. What did you learn? What went well? What would you do differently if you had to do it again? Has your experience led you to devise any new aims in your life? Reflect thoroughly and, ideally, write it down.

Keep Refining

Have patience with yourself as you settle back into your daily habits and routines. Keep aiming for a clear and calm space, solid routines, and consistent progress over the long term. Know that this won’t be the last time life throws you off kilter but that you’ll likely get better and better in your ability to bounce back.