Looking after your Mental Health during Lockdown

We have been living in lockdown for so long now, it is almost starting to feel like normal.  We have all created our routines, homeschooling is going well and we are all muddling along in this little place we call home.

We are lucky, on the whole, lockdown has been a positive experience. We have enough space and tolerance to get along and keep to our own space if we need it. There haven’t been too many disagreements and mostly we have enjoyed having the time together. Plus we do have each other to do things with, chat to or just to sit with.

Even so, there have been grey days.  I think I have one day each week where I wake up and I don’t want to get out from under the duvet.  I just want it all to go away or go back to normal. These days are tricky to navigate as I often feel grumpy for the whole day; snapping at everyone and generally making things difficult for myself and everyone around me.

Apparently, this is normal under the circumstances.  This is “unprecedented” as we hear many times a day.  Not only are we afraid of how the Coronavirus might affect us or our loved ones, our whole way of life has changed dramatically and suddenly we have become confined to a smaller space and existence. Accepting that it is normal to feel anxious and worried is important.  Lots of people are feeling the same way. So how can we best manage our mental health during this difficult time.

Don’t obsess about the Coronavirus

This is one thing that has really helped me. During the first few weeks of lockdown, I was constantly obsessing about the virus. I watched endless things on TV, constantly checked social media and in the end I realised that I was making things worse for, myself. Yes, it is out there, yes it is awful but watching the numbers doesn’t help. Plus, social media can suck you into all sorts of theories and opinions that can make you feel even more anxious. I still check and keep an eye on things, but I have stopped obsessing and it has really helped me to feel better.

Focus on what you can do at home during lockdown, not what you can’t do

How often do you moan that there aren’t enough hours in the day? How many times have you wished for more time to do things? Lockdown should be seen as a time to get those things done.  Tick off the list of things that you have wanted to do for ages and haven’t had time. The great thing about having to stay at home is that you can take time to focus on what really needs doing, whether it is redecorating, recycling furniture, having a declutter or jobs in the garden, get them done while you have the chance. See this time as a positive.  If you set yourself one goal each day, this will help you to keep yourself focussed but also it won’t overwhelm you (as long as the one thing isn’t to redecorate the whole house!)

It is also the perfect time to make plans.  What are the things in your home or garden that you desperately want to change in the next few months? Do you need new curtains? Maybe you want to update your windows to aluminium windows? Is there a room that needs updating?  What about an extension ora conservatory? Sit down while you have time and a clear head and plan for the future.

Keep to a routine

Those days when you want to hibernate under the duvet?  Those are the days when a routine really helps.  Knowing that you need to be getting up at a normal time and following a normal routine is really important. Try and get up early and go to bed at a reasonable time.  Stick to regular mealtimes.  Write lists for each day if that works for you. For my daughter, we have a timetable on the fridge for weekdays with timings and a rough plan for each day and this has really helped us all to stick to a routine each week.

Look after you

Self care has never been more important and it can be all to easy to rush around worrying and taking care of everyone but yourself. Be kind to yourself and take a breath every now and then to gather your thoughts. Meditation for even a few minutes a day can be a really effective way to help you combat stress and anxiety. It gives you time to stop, relax and reset and if you get into the habit of doing this daily, you will really see the benefits.

If you are able to, exercise is a guaranteed way to make yourself feel better.  Luckily, even in lockdown, we can access a huge range of free activities on YouTube and social media.  Even better, why not get outside and enjoy the weather by walking or even jogging your way to feeling better.

The other thing that has kept me sane during the lockdown is reading.  I discovered an amazing app called BorrowBox which is free and connects to your local library and I have been able to borrow ebooks and audiobooks free of charge.  I have certainly made the most of it and read more books in the last eight weeks than I have done in a long time and I find reading really helps me to unwind and relax during these tricky times.

Keep talking

Finally, it is so important to keep talking.  Whether you are in a house full of family or living on your own, it is essential to keep talking.  Use video messaging or even just go old school and pick up the phone, it is good to talk and keep in touch during these times when we can’t just get together. We have jumped on the family quiz bandwagon over the last few weekends and I must admit that it has been really good fun to see everyone online and chat and laugh.  Even the teens said that this is something they would like to do after lockdown is finished.

And the final piece of advice from me is to do whatever works for you.  We are all different and cope in different ways but these are the things that have helped me so far and I hope that some of them work for you too.

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