‘Practise active hope – deciding what you want your experience to be’

Bernadette Russell, author of ‘How To Be Hopeful’

A second lockdown is a tougher ask than the first. Our adrenal response to the emergency is over. We know what this is now, and we don’t want to go through it again, especially not in the depths of winter.

But whether we like it or not, Covid isn’t going anywhere. For me, the best thing you can do is to practise active hope – deciding what you would like your experience to be and taking small steps to help make that happen. If you’re feeling miserable about the change in seasons, try to find things you like about autumn. For some, that joy will be found in nature and whatever is happening in the garden or the local park. For others, that’s about food and all the delicious things you can eat now that it’s getting colder. If watching old films under a blanket on the sofa is your idea of heaven, do that.

Force yourself to notice when you’re enjoying something, even if it’s just the cup of coffee you’re drinking, because that leads you back to feeling hopeful and happy. It has to be an active choice.

I kept a little jar last time of things I missed about normal life and things I was enjoying about lockdown; though things were challenging in terms of lost work opportunities and financial uncertainty, I revelled in having a chance to do the garden and clear out cupboards.

I got it out again this week to remind myself that there are ways to have fun even when everything feels like it’s being restricted.