6 Things That Can Help With Your Mental Health During *Yet Another* Lockdown
Now officially settled into our third national lockdown, the sentiments are so similar to that of the first, and yet so different at the same time.
At this point, ten months in and fighting an equally – if not more – brutal wave, it would be fair to say that a lot of us (whilst, of course, still 100% remaining respectful to rules and the safety and health of others) are kind of over it. Not in a “fuck it, I’m gonna go hop on a flight to Dubai” kind of over it, but more “damn, why does there still not seem to be a light at the end of this godforsaken COVID-19 tunnel?!”
With the pandemic following us into a new year, it’s absolutely no shocker if you can’t help but feel like your mental health is in the toilet. Everybody is different – including their triggers and comforts – and so there’s no one-step fix to get yourself feeling a bit more ‘with it’, but here are a few ideas that can help lift the dark clouds a bit.
1. Try to stick to a routine where you can.
Things look wildly different to how they did this time last year, and for the very large majority of us, our everyday routine was one of the first things to go out the window. Whether that was a result of work changes, financial troubles, or just the general reality of being quarantined, a lot of us said goodbye to our early mornings and stressfully sweaty commutes. Alas, we may have dodged some of the, shall we say, grosser aspects of our lives, but the loss of routine can play a large part in anxiety, depression, and overall grogginess. We’re not saying you should set your alarm for 5am just for the fun of it (because, ew, what kind of fun is that?), but sticking to some kind of ritual – whether that be your morning movements, or how you play out your entire day – can help bring a bit more control and togetherness back into your day.
2. Make room in your schedule for safe socialising and alone time in equal measure.
In the first lockdown, isolation was such an unheard or unknown aspect of our society that the feeling of being cut off from the rest of the world was startling and detrimental. With that came the continuous stream of connectivity and digital socialisation, from Zoom to Netflix Party, where we became fixated to our external lives in such an intense way, filling our days desperately catching up with every single one of our friends. It became a bit of an overload, and that in itself had an impact on people mentally. This time around, give yourself as much time out as you give yourself in, and adjust your balance accordingly.
3. Give yourself something to look forward to.
Remember that tunnel we were talking about earlier on? Well, we’re somewhere in the dark middle part of it right now, so it can be really hard to find something to get hyped about, especially with future holidays and special occasions hanging in the balance. It’s not quite the same, but think of things that will get you excited. Back in May, I spent my birthday in the first lockdown at home on my own, breaking a birthday tradition for the first time in a decade. But with the help of my friends replicating it over Zoom, my day felt a bit more special than it would’ve otherwise. In addition to that, I promised myself that I’d make one of my favourite meals, which I don’t cook very often because of its lengthy and slightly fiddly preparation. I was so excited not only to make that meal, but to eat it too. And, as simple as it seems, it helped the day go by without me being too sad that I wasn’t able to spend any of it with my family. Whether it’s a meal, an activity, or something else, don’t wait for a special occasion to give yourself something to look forward to. Likewise, if having nothing to do is playing a part in your low mood, check out our article from last March’s lockdown with some ideas to beat boredom.
4. Do things that give you a happy hormone boost.
When you’re feeling low or anxious, one of the best ways to combat it in the moment is to do something that results in a release of some happy hormones! Whether it’s serotonin, dopamine, or good old endorphins, any of these can increase your mood in the present, so finding activities that release these chemicals to the brain on a regular basis will help. An easy example is exercise or joyful movement, which releases endorphins and leaves you feeling good. But exercise isn't an option for everyone (something a lot of wellness companies are yet to fully understand), so there are plenty of other options. For example, if you’ve got a dog or cat, spending some time with them, having a cuddle and petting them releases happy hormones. If you’re into dark chocolate, one of its great benefits is that it acts as an endorphin booster (red wine does the same!). Meditation, essential oils, watching a drama or comedy on TV all can help – even taking some time out to do a crossword puzzle releases dopamine, the pleasure hormone, every time we fill in one of the answer boxes.
5. Don’t buckle under the pressure of staying “switched on”.
Following on from the importance of finding the right balance of socialising (safely) and having some time to yourself, this is important. Whilst social media and technology is the main (and for many of us, only) form of connection that we have to the world outside of our homes, it can also create an overwhelming space that can drain us very quickly. If you need to log out, log out. If you need to switch off your phone, or put it on Do Not Disturb, do that. You’re not obliged to post, like, or comment anything if you don’t want to; technically, that applies always, but especially now.
6. Seek help from a licensed professional.
As always, when times get difficult, we actively encourage talking about it and opening up to someone you can trust about what’s going on and how you’re feeling. However, if things get too hard, it’s vital that you seek help from a professional. Sometimes, holding it in or chatting to a trusted friend or family member just isn’t enough, and that’s okay. Whether it’s via your GP or a counsellor, you deserve and are worthy of support, and they will be able to provide you with the best care possible.
Stay at home, save our NHS, and most importantly, keep safe.
Image credit: Edwin Hooper
Want to support The Unedit and the work that we do? Buy us a coffee.
