How to look after your mental health during a lockdown

As we all know, most of the world has been put in lockdown with the recent pandemic. The UK introduced new measures to combat non-essential travel which includes not being able to visit friends and family. For some of us, this can be demoralising as we feel isolated and helpless throughout these difficult times. However, technology means we are always a click away from connecting with our loved ones and it helps to reach out to those who feel alone throughout these tough times. I will discuss further steps you can take to look after your mental health.

1. Listen to a podcast

Podcasts are an accessible and cost-effective facility for keeping yourself occupied, research shows that listening to a voice can be a source of comfort in difficult times and almost every topic has a podcast. Guests on the show can be much more upfront and honest with difficult conversations as we cannot see their emotion on show as it is recorded in a safe and private environment. One of my favourites includes The High Performance Podcast by Jake Humphrey who interviews guests from the world of sport who show a more human side to them as they are just like everyone else.

2. Reach out to loved ones 

The latest pandemic has affected everyone not just personally, but professionally as people have to work from home and stress levels on key workers are unprecedented. Emotionally, this is a tough time for everyone as we are unable to visit friends and family members who are struggling and it is important to check up on others. Reassurance from loved ones is essential especially for those in stressful professions and it is essential we show gratitude to those who sacrifice themselves to help others.

3. Use Social media accordingly

I’ve discussed in a previous post that social media is an incredibly powerful tool to support loved ones as well as check breaking news and have light-hearted conversations. However, it can also have a dark side in that people use it as a security blanket to attack others, whilst you can turn off comments on Instagram, Twitter is arguably the worst platform as people can make anonymous accounts to attack others. Research shows that excessive scrolling can affect our mental health and sometimes it’s better to take regular breaks from scrolling through news feeds.

4. Read a book 

Reading can bring peace of mind and is good for looking after your mental health. As you may know, one of my favourite books includes The Chimp Paradox which is great for improving your self-esteem and developing emotional intelligence which is my go-to book in difficult times. The Subtle Art is another good read and one that I would recommend if you’re looking for a more personalised account of improving your mental health.

Final Thoughts

There are many things you can do to look after your mental health throughout this difficult time and it doesn’t need to be restricted to playing on the PlayStation or scrolling through social media. If you’re working from home, I would recommend sticking to a routine as working to your normal hours as well as rewarding yourself with regular breaks and having a comfortable working environment to work in such as creating your own office.

However difficult things are, remember that the situation is time-limited and things will improve in the long-run. Sometimes the best decision is the most difficult and not everyone would sacrifice comforts for doing the right thing and there are many times in life where the right choice is the least popular. Imagine you have a sweet in front of you and test how long you can put off not eating it? Research shows that those who can resist the temptation to eat it straight away usually go on to be more successful in life. All in all, not everyone is cooperative and want to hear home truths but it mustn’t stop you from doing what is right and we’ll be back to normal life sooner rather than later.