How to keep your mind healthy during lockdown
For many of us all over the world, the lock down has left us feeling out of sorts. We’re struggling to come to terms with our new routines, adapting to working from home and juggling home schooling, so it’s no wonder by the end of the day we’re left feeling sluggish, unmotivated or like we’re on an emotional rollercoaster.
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and feel like it’s difficult to pull yourself out of it, but we’re incredibly lucky to have access to so many resources that can help us feel better, work better and keep the kids entertained even for 30 minutes – thank you internet! (What did we ever do without it?!) We’ve rounded up a few of our favourite ways to make sure you're keeping your mind as healthy as possible and ending the day on a high.
A new routine
Staying at home all day can be difficult, and if you’re not working or have less commitments then it can be easy to feel lost or lack purpose. Whilst we can’t maintain our old routines and structures, it’s important to be able to create new ones to stay positive and prevent feelings of anxiety or boredom.
Start off with something simple – aim to get up early and make yourself a coffee and a lovely breakfast before you head out for your daily walk. Create a cleaning and tidying schedule. Set aside time to get creative. Having dedicated time for everyday tasks will help you feel like you have a clear schedule and will allow more time for productivity.
Take a deep breath
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, under pressure or generally feeling like you need a moment of calm, then there are loads of breathing techniques that can help ease your mind and calm your body. Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress – when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to the body and things such as an increased heart rate, fast breathing and high blood pressure start to decrease.
Check out Breathpod for online sessions and ways to use your breath to take control of your body.
Take note
Anyone else feel better after they’ve written something down? Daily journaling is a great way to declutter everything that’s going on in your head – it helps you to make sense of what you’re thinking, how to prioritise tasks or help you understand your mood or feelings.
It’s also a good time to reflect and take note of the things you're thankful for – why not end each day by writing down something that you enjoyed about your day or that you're grateful for? You’ll quickly be reminded of the good things in life and go to sleep on a positive note.
Declutter
If you’re working from home then it can be difficult to shift from office mode to at-home mode – and your working space may not be up to scratch! Empty coffee cups, post-it notes and notebooks may just be some things that are featuring on your desk right now. So take the time to de-clutter and create a comfortable space for working – it will help you to be more productive, and you won’t have to strategically place your laptop to avoid certain angles during those work video calls!
Time to talk
We’re lucky to live in a world where technology is so advanced and we have access to so many communication tools. But it’s easy to get caught up with group chats, family quizzes and online games and not be communicating how you’re really feeling. Set aside some time to phone someone who you’re close to and can rely on and speak openly about how you’re feeling. Although we’re all experiencing the same situation, it's important to realise that we’re still entitled to feel upset and can chat to our closest friends and family members for reassurance.