ASK THE EXPERT
Angry about your friends mixing households or spurning masks? LIZ O’CONNOR looks at how to handle the frustration of people not following the covid-19 rules
Q I HAVE very young children and am running out of things to keep them entertained in lockdown. What you suggest?
A ADANNA STEINACKER, below, of Instagram and Youtube influencers The Adanna & David Family (@adannadavid_ fam) and mum to Noah, 3, and Kian, 5, says: “It’s important to reflect on what lockdown 1.0 looked like. It was unprecedented. The pressure of keeping up with what kids were doing at school was real. In addition to working full-time, we had to put time into planning the day – from arts and crafts to reading, from baking to painting, indoor play, outdoor play, nap time, snack time, even scheduling calls with parents of school friends for them to maintain social contact. It was tough, we were exhausted.
“As the months progressed, there have been conversations about our mental health as parents – happy parents result in happy kids.
“Fast forward to lockdown 3.0. We realised a lot of the pressure was self-inflicted. We’ve come to the realisation that it can take a lot less to keep them entertained.
“Freestyle play and getting them involved in what we’re doing (even housework) has worked well. Spending time outdoors – walking, running, riding bikes/scooters, planting herbs or hunting for bugs, keeps toddlers entertained.
“We’ve also stopped saying this is what they did yesterday – it’s fine to repeat activities.
“Another great time killer is Face-timing family. We call the grandparents who are more than happy to read a book, sing a song or ask the kids about their day.
“Lastly, combining what they love doing with educational aspects has been a rewarding experience for both our children and us. Our top two activities are watching online videos of their favourite characters discussing numbers, colours, alphabets etc., and using Lego bricks, or any other toys where they have to be creative, to build and create their own things.
“Our boys can sometimes spend one or two hours just building things up and creating imaginative scenarios.”
DESPITE the repeated messages from the Government to stay home, protect the vulnerable and avoid all unnecessary travel, it’s clear that not everyone is adhering to the coronavirus guidelines.
If you’ve spent months avoiding seeing family and friends, it can be frustrating to enter a supermarket and spot someone shopping without a mask, or to hear about an acquaintance bending the rules to visit other households.
And knowing that some people aren’t getting behind the national effort can quickly cause anxiety about the spread of the virus and what the future holds.
While you can’t control what others do, experts say you can learn to influence your emotional response to rule-breakers. Here’s how to keep calm and carry on.
STICK WITH YOUR BUBBLE
Dr Meg Arroll, chartered psychiatrist at Healthspan, says that it’s a good idea to try and distance yourself from loved ones who are interpreting the guidance differently from you – especially if you feel that it’s putting your health at risk.
“Be clear with those in your immediate bubble on what the latest rules are and how you will adhere to them,” she says. “Stick to the boundaries that you’ve agreed on and minimise your contact with others who may not be so rigid.”
IF WORRY SETS IN, BREATHE DEEPLY
If you start to feel a sense of panic after mixing with people who aren’t wearing masks in indoor public spaces, Dr Arroll says you should try breathing deeply through your belly to halt the innate stress response.
At the same time, you can reassure yourself that your face covering is doing its job.
“Also, remember that there are some circumstances that prevent people from wearing masks,” reminds Dr Arroll. “They may have a medical reason for not wearing one, so bear that in mind before you jump to judgements.”
LIMIT YOUR TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
It’s easy to feel outraged if you spot an influencer or celebrity on a foreign holiday on Instagram, so unfollow accounts that are making you feel uncomfortable.
Of course, it’s tempting to want to confront those you think are flouting the rules, but Dr Arroll says that typing aggressive comments on people’s holiday posts is an unhealthy way to address your feelings.
“Anger is very often a response to fear, so it would be useful to release this feeling in a more productive way. You could talk to a close friend about how you feel, or write it down in a journaling exercise,” she says.
EXERCISE AWAY THE STRESS
If someone you care about acts in a way that goes against your personal boundaries, it’s normal to feel upset about it.
“It’s a very stressful time so if you’re prone to anxiety, make sure you take the time to manage that stress proactively,” says Dr Paul Mclaren, of Priory’s Wellbeing Centres.
“Aerobic exercise and active relaxation will help, either indoor or outdoor,” he says, adding that you could also try meditating.
TELL OTHERS HOW YOU FEEL
Priory psychotherapist Pamela Roberts says: “If you know someone that’s repeatedly breaking the rules, talk to them about how you feel and the importance of the rules to you.
“This is to ensure that others are aware of the rights and wrongs of current regulations, which will help to give you peace of mind about the situation.”
REMEMBER EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT
The heightened anxiety around the coronavirus pandemic has left us hyper-critical of others, but it’s good to keep your head by reminding yourself that not everyone is in your shoes.
“It might sound obvious, but it’s important to remember everyone is different,” stresses therapist Jessica Boston. “They handle life challenges differently, and interpret information differently, so remember that it isn’t a personal attack on you.” That being said, everyone should be doing their bit to stick to the rules, and if you’re seriously concerned about a breach of the latest government guidance in the UK, you can find out how you can report the incident by visiting police.uk.
Remember that there are some circumstances that prevent people from wearing masks.
Psychiatrist Dr Meg Arroll