Is lockdown’s easing make you uneasy?
The thought of returning to our old schedules, or having to be out and about again, is causing a lot of stress for many, says LIZ CONNOR
WHILE the gradual reduction of lockdown measures is, in many ways, a big relief, it’s also triggering a lot of anxiety for many people. This might be the prospect of returning to your stressful, hectic pre-pandemic schedule, social anxiety creeping in, or worries about a second wave of the virus. Whatever the reason, it’s something lots of people are feeling.
So what can we do to help tackle our lockdown-easing anxiety? We asked some wellbeing experts to share their top tips, as we head into the new ‘new normal’...
CARA DE LANGE
Burnout expert and founder of Softer Success (softersuccess.com)
“MOST of us have probably felt fear, anxiety and f rustration over the past few months, and it’s easy to be dragged down by these emotions.
“Whenever I have been ‘challenged’ by working and homeschooling, I’ve used positive affirmations – statements that can help to overcome self-sabotaging thoughts.
“Every morning and evening, I block off time to write an affirmation in my gratitude journal. One tip is to write a positive ‘future’ script (of how your life might look three months down the line), which you can revert back to every day. Doing this has helped me through tough times and I’ll definitely continue to do it in the future.”
DR NERINA RAMLAKHAN,
Sleep therapist and expert for Silentnight (silentnight.co.uk)
“LOTS of people have been reporting sleep issues over lockdown, which can really take a knock on your mental health. We’re so used to living in a fast-paced world, where our minds are constantly overthinking and overloaded, that it can prevent us from switching off at night.
“One of the most powerful ways to get back on track with sleep is to spend more time in nature. I like to take part in grounding exercises; stand in the grass or the soil for a moment and take in the sights, sounds and smells around you – this has a profoundly mindful impact on our quality of sleep and how we feel the next day. Plus, it boosts hormones which makes us feel happy, creative and optimistic.”
SANA KHAN
Nutrition consultant and founder of Avicenna Wellbeing (avicenna wellbeing.com)
“A TIP that works for me, any time I’m feeling overloaded, is practising slow and restorative deep-breathing. I’ll do a set of breathing exercises throughout the day, in short bursts, to bring awareness and calmness to my mind and body – there are lots of apps and video tutorials online.
“My mood has fluctuated throughout lockdown, but focusing on ‘stillness’ and breathing has been the thing that’s helped me the most.”
DOCTOR HILARY JONES
TV doctor speaking on behalf of Willerby (willerby.com)
“GET out into the garden or a local park. There’s definitely a proven correlation between mental and physical wellbeing, so I would urge everyone to make your mental health a priority – by ploughing on, you will reach burnout and that can take much longer to come back from.
“Enjoying time outside in nature has lots of positive effects on our mental health and is fantastic for our physical health too.
“Whether you’re walking in the hills or pottering around your garden, our mental health can improve when we connect with the outside world.”
AIMEE VICTORIA LONG
Personal trainer (aimeevictorialong.com)
“MY tip for personally dealing with anxiety during uncertain periods is to keep a structure to each day, especially if everything else feels uncertain. Getting up at a set time, completing daily tasks, and ensuring we aren’t going to bed super-late is really important.
“Plus, I recommend reducing the amount of time you spend on social media. If you’re worried about post-lockdown life, it’s easy to fall into a trap of seeing other people seemingly coping, and thinking that nobody else is in the same boat.
“In reality, we are only given the smallest window into people’s lives online, one that’s usually filtered.”