Lockdown 3 – The Sequel
In the words of Abba – ‘Mama Mia here we go again’ with lockdown three. But, at least this time there is an end in sight with vaccines being rolled out. We’ve been here before, and we know we can get through it. But, you may find that the cumulative impact of yet another lockdown could be taking its toll on your mental health and wellbeing, so it’s essential to look after yourself and also look out and support those around you.
One advantage that carers and those with existing conditions such as epilepsy have are the massive strength and resilience you already have, which places you in a great position to get through the third lockdown. But for those days when maybe you need a little extra support, here are a few tips to help you.
Daily dose of positivity
Try taking a few moments either first thing or at a convenient moment during the day to think about what is positive in your life at that moment. It could be thinking about one thing that made you laugh this week or one person who you’ve helped to be happier this week. These positive moments can help to set the tone for the day and improve your overall positivity.
Be thankful
There is always something to be thankful for. Often it’s taking it back to basics, being thankful for the roof over your head and the food on your table. Thankful for family and friends in your life. These are things we can take for granted, and there is always something to be thankful for.
Choose to be happy
Happiness can often be a state of mind. We all have hard days, and on some of these days, it’s key to shake off the blue mood if you can. This can be as simple as having a talk with yourself, acknowledging that you’re not having a great day but saying that you will choose to be happy today.
Assess and take action
If life is really getting you down, you need action. Take some time to write down and assess what is getting you down, and what can you do to change that? As human’s, we can often get easily drawn into a negative thought process, but life can change, and often it just takes some thought and action to do that.
Take time out – Positivi-Tea
Exhaustion has a key role to play in our mood. At the moment, many of us are home-schooling and working or caring for others. Take some time to stop for at least 15 minutes. Put the technology down, make a cup of tea or your favourite warm drink and sit and relax. Perhaps even pick up a book and just ‘be’ for a few quiet minutes.
Reach out
Although these tips can help, we appreciate that it’s ok not to be ok and sometimes we all need a little extra help. Reach out to family and friends, and although you can’t physically see people at the moment, a Facetime, Zoom or WhatsApp video call can really lift the spirits. There are many services and people online that can provide a friendly ear or expert advice if needed.
Mental First Aid – Offer free useful strategies and a downloadable Mental First Aid card.
Samaritans – Call 116123 24-hour support (@Samaritans)
Shout Crisis Text Service – Text Shout to 85258 (@GiveUsAShout)
Mind – 0300 123 3393 (@MindCharity)
Finally, if you’re not having the best day, that’s ok, don’t be too hard and be kind to yourself. Like all storms, the rain comes before the rainbow, the storm won’t last forever.
