Looking after your Mental Health during Lockdown
As the UK’s lockdown extends into a fourth week with no imminent prospect of relaxation, the realities of our collective loss of freedom are sinking in. Children are becoming fractious and anxious, relationships are beginning to fray and despondency is creeping across the nation. From claustrophobia and germ phobias to loneliness and anxiety, our mental health is suffering in unprecedented ways.
The fact that official guidelines only talk about physical exercise is nothing new. For centuries, body health has been openly debated and celebrated, while mental health has been largely ignored and treated as a shameful secret. It’s only in the last few years that high-profile figures like Prince Harry and Stephen Fry have started a public debate about universal issues such as stress and depression. And that debate is more important than ever at present, especially as it doesn’t take huge changes in behaviour and attitude to have a positive effect on our mental health.
These are our tips for looking after your mental health until the lockdown lifts:
- Try to reframe the situation. There’s always another way to look at things. For instance, it’s hard to see the benefits of trying to work while frustrated children roam around the house. But your actions can be inspirational to kids, showing them the value of working hard. They’ll remember this phase of their lives, and they might be positively influenced if they see you setting a good example during tough times.
- Give your mind a break. Dwelling obsessively on the lockdown won’t change things beyond your control. It’s better to adopt small acts of mindfulness, like concentrating on tasting food rather than mechanically chewing it while watching TV. Take a moment to open a window, close your eyes and breathe in deeply. Give yourself a few minutes off work each hour to stretch your legs, make a cuppa and un-focus your eyes.
- Cut down on news consumption. The news is pretty bleak, and is unlikely to provide much reassurance. The same applies to social media – most posts and comments are reminders of the lockdown, so avoid obsessively refreshing timelines or re-reading the headlines. Try to spend free moments reading a book, listening to music or chatting online (or over the phone) to friends and loved ones.
- Make plans for when restrictions are lifted. The lockdown is a temporary measure, which is only sustainable for a matter of weeks. Rather than missing what’s been taken away, think about how you’ll exploit the return of amenities and freedoms you perhaps took for granted. Discuss a staycation with relatives, decide which restaurant to visit first, and plan that day trip you never got around to. Having spent endless hours staring at the same four walls, you might even start planning that long-debated move to a brand-new home…
- Don’t overlook the positives in life. The Covid-19 outbreak is frightening, and the restrictions it’s imposed are unprecedented and unwelcome. Yet you’re probably reading this in the safety and security of your own home, surrounded by your immediate family and your cherished possessions. Utilities are being provided without interruption, heart-warming displays of true community spirit are restoring our faith in the human race and the days are getting longer and warmer. So, in spite of this period of national crisis, we can for now live life at a more manageable pace and realise there are still many things to be grateful for.
