Some helpful tips during lockdown
The Nation is stuck indoors on a lockdown, trying to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Everyone who is not a keyworker must stay inside… but what does this mean for you?
If you are already struggling with a Mental Health issue, this may heighten your anxiety and stress levels, to become unbearable.
In order to keep your head calm and your mind busy, I have listed some activities you could be doing on a daily basis.
Most importantly though, if you are feeling overwhelmed, speak to someone! Call a friend or family member and have a chat. Allow them to lift you out of the negative mindset. If you cannot do this, call Samaritans or someone else that is there to help you feel safe enough.
Here are some tips to help you through the Lockdown.
Daily
Every morning, take a moment to do some deep breathing exercises and think about something you are grateful for. It can big as big or small as you like it to be, even just be thankful that you woke up! Set your intentions for the day. Then go and have a wash and put on clean clothes.
Dressing for the day
When you put on fresh clothes and shoes, you are telling your mind that you are ready to face the day ahead. Even putting on your make up will help you feel better. Dressing prepares you to feel ready for anything and helps you to be proactive and get things done. If you sit around in your PJ’s all day, you end up achieving very little, as your mindset says “nah, I can’t be bothered”.
Now, I am not saying that’s always a bad thing, as we all need a little down time, every now and then… but when it becomes a daily habit, that’s when it can become really negative for your mental health. There is then a stronger possibility that you may end up enhancing the anxiety and depression problems, and feel even worse by the end of the day.
Plan of action
If you have a plan of action or goal, you have something to concentrate on. The Coronavirus has us all in lockdown and nobody really knows how long it is going to last. Therefore, you have to plan your days, from a day to day and week to week basis. When you know what direction you would like to go in your mind is kept busy, and it makes the days go faster. It also gives you a sense of achievement. You could also plan what you’d like to be doing once this is all over!
What can you do?
Anything you’ve never had the time to do before is a good start. The possibilities are endless. From tidying out a room, cupboard or bookshelf to learning a new skill.
If you are able, do some exercise every day. Whether it be joining in on an online exercise class (there are so many, you can Google or YouTube them), to going for a walk or bike ride, whilst we are still allowed. Even tending to your garden if the weather is nice.
I have started teaching my kids to play the guitar and we are doing arts and crafts. We are also learning to speak Spanish, using a very easy to use website, called Duolingo.
If this is not for you, try painting. (I do painting by numbers, which is great for people with talents elsewhere who still enjoy the process). Or even some yoga, which is great for the body and mind and can be as strenuous as you like!
Minimise the news!
If you are constantly watching the news, all about the coronavirus, you may end up in a heightened state of anxiety. Keep your news updates to a minimum if you can. The same goes for social media. If the groups or people you follow are very negative or are talking about the Coronavirus or politics all the time, and that gets too much, think about stepping back from it for a little while.
Daily contact
If you can, do your best to contact someone every day. This will keep you in contact with the world, so that the isolation of the Lockdown period is not too overwhelming.
Use the time to contact people that may be in your thoughts but you’ve not spoken to for a while. It’s good to talk! If not on the phone, then there are plenty of social media apps you can use.
When you are feeling overwhelmed
There may be times when it all just gets a little too much for you and you are not coping. These are the times when you need to do some self-care.
- Doing some breathing exercises, will help you calm your mind and settle your feelings back to being more relaxed again. Have a look at some of my breathing exercises on my YouTube videos HERE.
- Have a cup of tea or a drink of water and do nothing for 20 minutes.
- Read a book and distract yourself.
- Think about a time that you were really happy or relaxed. Imagine yourself back there and soak up the positive feelings it evokes.
- Watch a relaxation video HERE.
- Have a nice relaxing bath or shower.
- Go for a walk and make sure to LOOK UP, taking in the sights, taking deep breaths of fresh air.
- Join a group of friends in a quiz or daily online activity.
- Tidy up, it will help you feel less anxious!
- Remind yourself that this is only temporary, things will get better.
Get some direct help from Katy
Katy Stevenson is a wife and mother of 2 young boys. She’s been a practising Hypnotherapist since 2009 and loves to help people to release their anxieties quickly, and help them regain their confidence and self-esteem.
If you’d like to have a chat with Katy about having a 1 to 1 session and releasing your anxious thoughts and feelings, for good, then get in contact with her now.
Obviously, during the Coronavirus pandemic, appointments are online only. Katy uses a secure online service, called Zoom, which is a private and secure meeting room, similar to Skype.
To book a free telephone consultation, please go to her online diary here. https://calendly.com/katystevenson/strategy-call
You can also watch her free webinar HERE, to find out more about Hypnotherapy.