If like myself you live in the UK, you'll know the country is currently under its third national lockdown. It's okay to feel overwhelmed in such a scary and unknown time, and you are not alone in feeling that way. The pandemic as a whole is completely unknown, and it is normal to not know what to do or how to feel during this time.
Being at home for the last month or so has slowly made me feel unmotivated and uninspired to do anything. It can be really tough finding motivation when you're stuck looking at the same four walls, I've felt a lot of frustration that I'm not doing anything and that my life is on standstill. Realistically life hasn't stopped at all, and as cliche as its sounds, this is all part of the journey. If this pandemic didn't happen, you wouldn't be this version of yourself. You can use this time to work on yourself mentally.
"When everything is uncertain, everything important becomes clear."
My reason for writing this post is to spread some mental health awareness and to help others who may also be struggling with the effects of the lockdown. There are no rules on how to feel during this time, and these are just some things I do to feel more motivated and that have improved my mental health!
A little disclaimer - It's okay to not be okay, to have bad days, to sleep in late and stay in your pj's all day, eat too much and binge Netflix shows for 6 hours+ each day. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to be busy every day and to feel like you should be doing more during this time, chilling out of the couch in sweats is perfectly fine too!
"Love isn't cancelled. Kindness isn't cancelled. Imagination isn't cancelled. Hope isn't cancelled."
Make your bed - Set your alarm for a similar time you would typically wake up for work, and once your up make your bed straight away, do not get back into it! I read an article recently that said "making your bed is the first success of the day" and I couldn't agree more. Not only does it make the room look a lot more clean and presentable, but it also makes you feel more productive as you've already completed the first task of the day, encouraging you to do more of your to-do list.
Don't look at your phone straight away when you wake up - I know it can be really tempting to see whats happened on social media overnight, I too am guilty of it, but it's important to wait. Not checking your phone straight away reduces anxiety and keeps your head clear, not letting messages, peoples opinions, requests occupy your mind for the first part of your day.
Have a glass of water - Start your day on a positive note. Drinking water first thing and throughout the day has so many benefits relating to your completion and your immune system. I can often fall behind on drinking enough water during the day so I recently downloaded an app to keep reminding myself and its been working really well!
Go for a walk - Getting outside and getting fresh air is great for clearing your head. Try and get out once a day & explore new walks near you, but of course in line with government guidelines.
Meditation - Meditation is something I've started recently and I've found it really helpful. Apps like Calm and Headspace are great for any just starting or someone who has been meditation for a while. Not only does it help relieve stress, but it also helps control anxiety, enhances self-awareness and lengthens your attention span.
Limit your intake of news - It's important to stay up to date with what's happening but don't create more anxiety for yourself by reading a hundred different articles about the pandemic. If you're feeling anxious after an announcement or reading an article, apps like calm etc are helpful if you're getting anxious, and great for helping with sleep too.
Keep in touch - Stay in contact with loved ones over text, over the phone or however is most convenient. Being at home can make you feel very isolated and alone so it's important to keep in contact as much as you can. Plan to have drinks over facetime with friends, games nights or a family zoom night.
Set yourself goals - Setting yourself goals, however big or small will keep you motivated and working towards something. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to be achieving loads right now, a goal can be as simple as getting up, making your bed and getting dressed to cooking a new meal, going for a walk or learning a new skill. However big or small, a goal is still a goal.
If you're struggling, reach out - It is completely normal to not feel okay all the time, especially during a pandemic. If you're struggling, reach out to someone, this can be friends, family, colleagues, or a helpline. Support groups are still running also, so it's worth checking what groups are running near you and to attend if you feel it will be helpful.
Helplines:
Samaritans - Call 116123 (Available 24hrs a day)
Shout - Text 'Shout' to 85258
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) - Call 0800 58 58 58; Webchat - www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat (5pm - Midnight daily)
NHS - 111 (Available 24hrs a day)
Mind - Call 0300 123 3393 or Text 86463
Remember this won't last forever, this is only temporary and you are going to get through it. Make sure to check in with yourself and how you're feeling mentally, as well as checking in with friends and family too. Reach out if you need support, you aren't alone. ♡
Stay safe everyone! x
