Think Pieces
How to Take Care of Yourself During the Lockdown (Ways That Actually Make A Difference)
17/11/2020
I’m not sure about you, but the second lockdown really hit me hard. I’ve found myself feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unsure about what the future is holding. For those new to this blog, you should know I have a slight obsession with control & I just have to know what’s happening next, so this situation is far from ideal for my mental health.
I’m not gonna pretend like this post idea came up out of nowhere. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve felt increased anxiety and did just about everything to figure it out.
This post is not going to give you a secret cure, but these are the things that help ME feel better. I hope they will help you too.
Limit The Intake Of The News
Did you know that too much bad news can be bad for you? Even short periods of negative news can bring about feelings of sadness and worry. During Covid, you might be up for watching the news 24/7 and keeping yourself updated about everything.
If you notice that the news is getting to you, make sure to do this now:
- keep your television or radio off;
- turn off news alerts on your phone;
- inform your friend groups that you’re trying to limit the intake of the news and ask them to give you the news only if you ask for it;
This will allow you to decide when you are ready to consume the news, not the other way around.
Start Your Day
If you are working from home these days – treat it as you would be going to work. Get up, exercise a little, dress-up, even go for a short walk outside. Have good breakfast, brew coffee, read a book BEFORE jumping on your phone or laptop screen.
It’s important to set the right tone for the day as soon as you wake up. Many of us lunge for our cellphones as soon as we wake up, but that’s terrible for our mental health. Leave your phone in the other room and only pick it up when you start working. It’s a small change, but it can make a huge difference!
Practice Minfulness
You might be a bit sick of this term by now, but damn it helps me! It just helps, especially when it comes to managing stress. Here are some of my favourite ways to practice mindfulness in my day-to-day:
- Yoga. I do yoga every single morning. Even if 10 minutes is all I can find time for. Getting down on my yoga mat is what keeps me going throughout the day.
- Express gratitude. We usually do this at a dinner table – we share a couple of things we feel grateful for.
- Deep breathing.
- Meditation (I don’t practice this as much, but if you have a peaceful home with no toddlers running around you – DO IT!)
- Focus on one thing at a time. Do your work mindfully, don’t just jump from one thing to the other.
- Feel all the feelings. Accept them. Embrace them. Then, let them go.
Accept This As A Season To Grow
I know this is hard, this season should not be happening. We all hate it, I won’t try to find a lot of light in it, but even in the worst circumstances where is something we can all learn.
If you have a lot of spare time – learn new skill. If you have hard time dealing with all the emotions – start the therapy. If you’re having difficult time with your partner – schedule time for deep and long conversation.
All of these things are comfortable, but at some point, they all have to happen. The timing is ideal for exploring yourself inside and out right now, go for it.
This season ain’t simple, but we will get through this, my friend!
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