Lockdown Hacks

Being under a kind of 'house arrest' definitely isn't part of our 'normal'. Lockdown and isolation are forcing us to stop, be still, and ultimately live at a completely different pace and in a completely different world to what we're used to. If you're anything like me - and by that I mean a total exrovert - this is probably your worst nightmare. How do you survive without being able to go and talk to other humans?! If you're an introvert, being your own best friend for a couple months must look a little more like paradise! But for those of you who, like me, are finding it harder to navigate the weird loneliness of lockdown-land, here's a few simple hacks that have helped slow down the process of me turning into some kind of crazy hermit lady.

#1 Keep some form of routine!

Yes, I know, I just want to enjoy the novelty of staying in my pyjamas all day too, and kick back with Netlflix as my only companion for the forseeable future. Instead of being little ostriches burying our heads under the duvet, though, let's try and maintain some kind of structure to the day. Having a routine not only keeps the illusion of some sort of normality, but means our emotional health doesn't suffer as much. I've found that establishing a basic daily routine of regular mealtimes, exercise, work/study and rest has helped me to feel more energised and productive during lockdown. Try mapping out your day or week loosely, starting with your non-negotiables, like mealtimes, and then slotting in other activities that can bring structure and order to the chaos.

#2 Look after yourself!

So important that we often forget it's a thing, self-care should definitely be high on our list of priorities right now. Your body is a temple, right? So let's make sure we show ourselves the love and attention we deserve! No, I don't mean just binging Netflix with a big bar of chocolate in hand (although this has definitely been me at points)! We're talking eating, exercising and sleeping well. It always amazes me how much of a positive effect eating regular, balanced meals, getting out and moving in the fresh air once a day and sticking to healthy sleep patterns has on my emotional health. I've noticed that when I'm eating rubbish, being a couch potato and going to bed at 2am by mind starts to suffer just as much as my body. Try sticking to your normal mealtimes and sleep schedule, and getting out for your once a day walk/run/cycle, and see if it changes your ability to deal with lockdown life.

#3 Resurrect the long forgotten projects!

Take your mind back to whenever you last had some time off or a real break! What was that long-forgotten project you started? That creative endeavour? Was it writing, drawing, DIY, gardening? You know what that looks like for you! For me, I've always had an interest in cooking that I've just not had the time to explore. My (un)lucky family have certainly been seeing the results of me diving back into it again and trying to learn new skills that I can use in the kitchen to create better meals in the future. Whatever your 'thing' is, invest into it! But if you're intending to dust off your DIY skills for the first time, do try not to lose a limb.

#4 Share what you have!

Finally, think about who you can serve near you. I don't know what your situation looks like, but I know that realistically I'm very lucky to be isolated with my family, with enough food and money to get by, and access to the internet. I've realised that there are people living near to all of us whose lockdown experience doesn't look like this. There are lots of people struggling to cope financially, as well as those who are lonely and vulnerable and live by themselves. I'm so proud of my own mum for reaching out to vulnerable neighbours in this time and sharing resources and conversations with them, so that people who aren't as connected to the world as us know they aren't alone. Maybe we can all learn something from her big heart and find ways to reach out to our communities (safely) during lockdown, because, let's face it, we're all in this together!

Ultimately, friends, look after yourselves and look after others, and hopefully that way we'll emerge the other side of lockdown with most of our sanity intact!