Many people right now are feeling frustrated, anxious or overwhelmed. Counsellor Laura Sollis shares her seven top tips for coping with the stress of lockdown.
With financial issues perhaps taking their toll, the feeling of isolation and worry for loved ones , it's no wonder so many people are feeling the strain right now. We all have unique situations that we have to try and navigate, which can make life sometimes feel impossible.
So bear with me for a moment………………..
Do you remember the people we used to watch on the telly in awe as they would spin loads of china plates on sticks? What if you gave it a go (I am talking hypothetically, please don't actually give it a go)? If each plate represents a stress, worry or anxiety that you have, how many could you keep spinning?
My point is that even the world plate spinning champion will have a limit! Right?
So how can we look after our mental health at a time where there is so much worry and stress?
Limit the news / social media
There is no doubt that what is happening right now feels scary but there is a difference to being informed and invading your brain with constant news.
Think of your brain like you would your stomach. We've all heard the expression " you are what you eat", well our minds are the same. If we keep filling it with all the news we can find, the chances are our mood will deteriorate.
Stay connected
We are physically distancing not socially. If before the lockdown you would meet up with friends regularly for coffee, then carry on doing it. I'm not suggesting breaking the lockdown, but platforms like skype, zoom or messenger are great ways to keep in touch and get connected.
Make yourself a coffee, treat yourself to a piece of cake, stick a ‘do not disturb sign’ on the door, get comfy and have a natter with your friends.
Cut yourself some slack
We aren't teachers and the kids are not at school. Deviating from the school time table is OK, a little flexibility may be what you need right now. Trying to keep to a strict timetable will cause stress for all the family and ultimately may escalate the house into a war zone.
Set bite-size goals
Perhaps you felt you would have more time on your hands but with everyone in the house at once suddenly the house looks like a bomb has gone off. The kitchen looks like it’s been attacked by a swarm of locusts and the workspace you cleared for yourself has evolved into a wash pile.
Small goals are much more manageable, you don't have to do everything right now. One pile, one room, one thing at a time. If you start to feel overwhelmed, shrink the expectation.
Get enough sleep
Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. If you are finding that lately you have had restless or disturbed sleep, try using some lavender or jasmine oil in the bedroom. Meditation is also good for getting our minds and bodies to relax. Many websites are letting us try things for free to promote wellbeing. A great site is https://www.meditainment.com/
Take exercise
Having a walk each day will make all the difference. Exercise and daylight is good for our bodies and help us sleep better at night. Listening to the birds and feeling a breeze on our faces can help us feel refreshed.
If you really can't face the outdoors right now, then play your favourite track and dance. Get the kids involved too, the best exercise to do is one where you're having fun!
Keep a journal
Grab yourself an exercise book and write down what you’re feeling. Journaling is a great way to explore what you are feeling and experiencing. Don't like writing? Then draw something that reflects your mood. Be as creative as you want to be but don't put pressure on yourself to make it perfect, this is an outlet for you to express yourself.
If you want to learn more about how to produce a journal, I’ll be blogging here about this soon.
Laura
