Times are different, as they have been for a while. By now, if you’re like me and most of the rest of the world, you just want things to go back to normal. Even if there’s just one small improvement going back to normality would bring. However much you enjoy your alone time.
The reality is it might not go back to normal for some time. And while this may be a daunting thought, there are still things we can do to help ourselves through this difficult time.
So I thought I’d come up with a few suggestions to help you.
Limit your News and Media Consumption
In these uncertain times, it can be tempting to flick through the channels or scroll through your social timelines looking for answers. Just in case this time is different from the other twelve times you’ve tried.
And if not then, maybe, just maybe, the next time. Who can blame you for trying?
While this may be helpful to a certain extent, you may soon find yourself in a dangerous loophole of causing yourself more anxiety because there’re no concrete answers. I quite often flick to the news as if knowing the latest rise in Coronavirus cases is going to somehow change it.
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Keep in Touch with a Range of Different Friends and Family Members
Humans are social beings, they crave interaction. You can imitate the socialisation we would have in normal times, by talking to a range of people. For example, you could video call your parents on a Monday and your aunt on a Thursday. (Or you might not, depending on your point of view. Your secret is safe with me.)
Look After YOURSELF
While interaction is vital for maintaining mental health, with lockdown (partial, or otherwise) comes the assumption that you’re available all hours of the day. You might have more time (or less, if you have children). But you still have to look after yourself. Try putting your phone on Do Not Disturb for a few hours and see how you feel.
You could even set aside 30 minutes in your day to reply to those nagging messages and emails. That way, you don’t have to let them bother you until the time is right for you. You can blame it on me, if need be. It’s fine.
If you’re anything like me, as straightforward as it may seem, even a 10 minute video call can be exhausting.
Having to pay attention in a way that we’re not used to, with our brains being used to half (or more) relying on body language to communicate. The calls themselves, to me, are very robotic – you have to be ready and prepared for when the connection cuts out.
Then there’s the tackling of the guilty shame as you lose track of the conversation. You’ve got the added pressure of people seeming to want answers to every question today, yesterday (because – why wouldn’t you – everyone has all the time in the world now?)
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Do some Baking or Cooking
There’s nothing like letting the stress ooze from your veins over the smell of freshly baked bread, or the sizzle of golden brown sausage rolls…is your mouth watering yet? You’ve also got the added bonus of having a reward by the end of it. What could be better; sugar, salt and less stress?
But as I say that, for the overthinkers in the room, we seem to have hit a little snag.
How brown – or not brown – is golden brown??
The answer is, I don’t really know (did you hear that gasp, because I did). But my advice is if the food looks nice, or at least edible – we aren’t making assumptions here – eat it.
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Wear a Mask
I’d hope this goes without saying, but wearing a mask where you’re asked to, as well as washing your hands when you get home, will help reduce the undercurrent of anxiety that the pandemic creates.
There’s only so much you can do to protect yourself, but as long as you are doing it you can rest assured. You could also take pride in that you aren’t only protecting yourself as much as possible, but also the other people you could potentially pass the virus on to.
Be Aware of Yourself Psychologically
If you are reading this, you probably are to an extent anyway, but a reminder can’t do you any harm.
Be aware of how you’re feeling mentally.
With not so much going on, it’s easy to forget about checking in with yourself. But on the same note, it’s easy for your mind to trick you into thinking ‘not a lot is happening, so why would I be affected by it?’
It’s easy to start dwelling on things, big or small, and we all know that your ruminating isn’t going to make you feel much better. Even though your brain seems to think that over analysing something is going to protect you in some way.
Hopefully, by writing this, I have made your day the tiniest bit better.
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