It's been a tough time for many of us recently. With the Coronavirus affecting many people's lives, whether you know someone who has had it, have suffered yourself or have worried about getting it, the restrictions on our lives and anxiety around the virus have affected us all. This is an article in partnership with Age UK. Age UK feels that everyone needs to take things at their own pace with lockdown easing and I strongly agree with them. Let's discuss this further.
Everyone is different
Go at your own pace
Although lockdown restrictions are easing, go at your own pace. Try not to let anyone pressurise you into moving too fast. If you don't feel ready to meet up indoors with your friends straight away then that's ok. Here I think it's a good idea to work out what exactly you are worried about and look at ways to deal with this. Maybe you are happy to meet up with friends outdoors first or happy to meet up indoors but don't want to hug. Tell your friends and family how your feel, they can't read your mind, and then they will understand.
Work out your own coping strategies
If there are certain situations you know will stress you out work out how to cope with them. Exposing yourself slowly to situations in a step by step approach can help your anxiety. If you are going to the shops and that stresses you out, try and go at quiet times of the day and at quiet days of the week. Make a list and stick to it. Go well prepared with hand sanitiser or sanitising wipes and a mask. If you have to do a big shop use online shopping until you feel more comfortable going out.
Learn anxiety tips and tricks
Learn some simple breathing techniques to deal with anxiety and help prevent you from panicking. NHS inform gives advice on panic attacks and advises for you to breathe in slowly and deeply for 5 and breath out slowly for 5. Also, it can be helpful to find something to distract you when you feel anxious, this can be anything from playing with pets, adult colouring books, doing crosswords, watching a favourite show, listening to soothing music or playing video games for example. Learning meditation could also help long term.
Exercise
There is much research to show that exercise has been shown to help anxiety and depression. The release of feel-good endorphins can really boost your mood. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym either, walking outdoors in nature has been shown to help anxiety, depression and lethargy. If you are worried about crowds at a local beauty spot, try and find somewhere more remote or go at a quiet time. I can guarantee you will feel better after a walk. Be prepared though, pop a mask in your pocket in case it gets busy.
Work
If you do have to go back to work and especially have to work in a public-facing role, be prepared. Plan how you are going to get there in a way that is least stressful to you. Take a mask, take a hand sanitiser. If you are travelling to work, take your iPod and your favourite relaxing music, or pop on your favourite music in the car. If you can go in one or two days a week at first that may help you slowly getting used to being back at work again. The government has provided guidance on how to keep the workplace safe and you may wish to have a chat with your company to see what measures they are taking to make it safe.
Talk
I hope these tips will help you cope with lockdown easing. Be prepared, be informed and take things at your own pace.
*Collaborative post
I am happy to know that there are some countries that are getting back to normal. However, in my country, even if restrictions would ease up, I would still be very cautious about going out. Vaccine roll-out is very slow and I don't want to catch the virus that will make me and my family ill. Better to be safe than sorry.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I think we are all coming out of lockdown in different ways and the important thing to remember is to just do it at your own pace.
ReplyDeleteI have been working throughout the past year so I'm happy that I can do things other than just go to work!
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to be anxious now things have started opening up again. Talking with friends and family can really help.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of us were super excited about everything opening back up but I have found it very overwhelming so I am definitely taking my time and moving at my own pace.
ReplyDeleteI was a little anxious at first about the lockdown restrictions starting to ease. I am just going to take it slow and only do what I feel comfortable with
ReplyDeleteI think you're so right about taking it at your own pace, you can't rush yourself, but we also need to appreciate everyone will be going at a different pace. I've taken the tube and a train for the first time since last summer and that felt fine which was good x
ReplyDeleteI am all for going out with the lockdown easing but I do understand that many people are being anxious especially if they have been in isolation. These are some great tips for them so they can rejoin society again
ReplyDeleteThese are some great tips - we definitely all need to think about what feels right for us, not everyone is going to be ready to getting back out there straight away.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant tips, Mel. I have been a little apprehensive about lockdown easing but it has so far been okay!
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