Tips for keeping positive in lockdown
"I am going to try my best to put help you see the silver linings and let you know my tips to stay positive, motivated and as good as you can in this strange situation."
As you all know it is less than ‘normal’ in the world right now and with all the uncertainty it can be extremely hard to stay positive! Your usual daily routine no longer exists, you can’t see the people that you usually see every day and you miss all the simple things you took for granted before. This all sounds horrible, but I am going to try my best to put help you see the silver linings and let you know my tips to stay positive, motivated and as good as you can in the situation.
Lots of people will be off work at the moment but at PCA we are still working from home so these are the things I am doing around my work schedule but I am sure they can apply to everyone.
Keep a routine
For me, it is vital that I keep a routine as that is something that I did ‘pre-coronavirus’. Although it is tempting to sleep in as late as you can and roll out of bed to your computer, I have been trying to get up a bit earlier and get ready for the day by doings omething to wake me up before work. It used to be a walk before we were allowed one a day but now it is a stretch, a quick 10 minutes of exercise in my living room, or my personal favourite, just dancing and being silly to music and just getting my body moving.
I then make sure I do my mornings work, have my usual cups of teas, breakfast and lunch break. This is when I will usually use my exercise and either go for a long walk or a run and if I don’t use it then I will just make sure to sit in the garden and enjoy the lovely weather.
Then I will do my afternoons work and when I finish do some kind of exercise which is usually a home workout or a new workout video online. I would usually be at the gym every night so I am trying to make it as close to my usual routine as possible to keep some normality in my life.
If the idea of a workout makes you wince then just do what works for you, maybe that is reading a book, cleaning, watching tv or cooking.
Here are some of my new favourite workouts if you want to try:
Listen to music
Music is one of the biggest medicines in my life. An advantage of working from home is that you can listen to you favourite music all day, everyday! This helps me so much as music motivates me and there is nothing better than just listening to your favourite songs, it can completely lift your mood.
Here are some of my favourite playlists on spotify at the moment:
Fresh air
As I mentioned above, I make sure I get some fresh air. This is so important to me as I love walking and being outside, especially when it is sunny like it has been! Since we are only allowed one walk a day I have made sure that it is a long one because I don’t want to waste it. I am lucky I live near some beautiful countryside but even just getting out anywhere will help. If I need something from the shops I always try and walk there too!
Eat well
I know it can be tempting to reach for the comfort food but I promise that wont make you feel any better about the situation. Don’t get me wrong I will never go a day without chocolate but just trying to eat well the majority of the day will be so beneficial for your mind and your soul.
Eat balanced meals with plenty of veggies but that are also tasty!
Switch off after work
My computer is in my living room so it can be hard to switch off and separate my work space from my home space but it is so important to do this. When I have done my work for the day I make sure I switch off my computer and move it at the weekends so it doesn’t feel like I’m constantly at work or get tempted to just do a few things in the evening.
Get dressed
I know it will be so tempting to stay in your pyjamas all day but that may not be the best thing to do, unless you are taking part in our PJs for PanCan campaign.
Even if you are getting changed into loungewear, it will help you to keep a routine and feel a little more normality. I am using this time to give my skin a break from make–up but I still like to do my hair and make up a few times a week just as personally it makes me organised and like I have my life together.
Bubble baths
So I actually used to hate bubbles in my bath but I have really come to appreciate them.They are very relaxing, smell amazing and you can pretend to have a bubble beard, so I really recommend them.
Find what gives you comfort
I personally really struggled on Monday night when Boris Johnson announced the lockdown and that you couldn’t see family if you didn’t live with them, which I don’t. I am very close to my mum and the thought of not seeing her for a minimum of 3 weeks was horrible, but I realised there was nothing I could do about it and we could still facetime. Anyway, the point I’m making was that after that had happened I put on a TV series that I have been watching for the last month or so and that I really enjoy and that strangely gave me comfort.
I was watching at least an episode every night before all of this happened and it just gave me some comfort and escapism from the situation.
Find what your comfort is and keep that in your daily routine.
Take advantage of the time at home
Normally I would just spend the evenings at home but since I am now here all day everyday, I have tried to take advantage of the extra time at home. I make sure it is tidy every night before bed and it has motivated me to want to improve it, even if it is just sorting out that cupboard in the kitchen or sorting out your clothes. Make a list of what you want to do and pick a few tasks to do each week.
Write lists
Every day I write a list of the things I want to achieve. This again helps me stay in routine and can help me to really see what I have achieved and feel accomplished. If you aren’t at work, you can still write a list of the things you want to do with your day and the tasks you want to complete.
Accept the bad days
Although I am trying to make life as normal as possible, it is important to remember that this isn’t ‘normal life.’ You will have bad days, days where you are more emotional and less productive and that is OK! Don’t beat yourself up about these days, just accept its a bad day and know that tomorrow will be better.
I know there is a lot to take in but I really hope this helps you even just a little bit. Although this is a daunting time, I am trying to appreciate all the things I cannot usually do. I am making a much more conscious effort to move my body and get my 10,000 steps in a day, with the gym being closed it is giving me an opportunity to try other workouts like Zumba and aerobic classes and I have more time to plan and cook meals!
I am trying to think of it as a great opportunity rather than being in isolation. Try to think about 3 things your grateful for everyday, stay in touch with your friends and family and try and make the most of a bad situation.
Let me know how you are staying positive!
Here are some photos of my family dog, Zeus, back at my mum and dads to make you smile 🙂 