You may feel like you have been in lockdown for an eternity, and while there is light at the end of the tunnel as the vaccines continue to be rolled out, it remains an important time to consider your own health and wellbeing and find ways to cope with lockdown.
And a group of experts have revealed some practical way you can beat lockdown fatigue.
- Lesson one: Invest in yourself – whether you elevated your skincare routine from the humble make-up wipe to a cabinet full of serums, broadened your bookshelf selection or chose to reward your tastebuds with some new flavours and cooking equipment, many of us decided to invest our pennies into ourselves last year. Emma Edwards, from The Broke Generation, outlines that deciding to put a small ‘self-care’ fund aside each month will help you think positively about money, as opposed to feeling that familiar pang of guilt each time you transfer the odd £50 from your savings for a well-deserved treat. Spend money on things that genuinely make you feel good whilst saving on those that don’t.
- Lesson two: Health is wealth – 2020 was undoubtedly pivotal in everyone’s appreciation for their health and recognition for vitamin-enriched food has flooded our feeds during the pandemic and confirmed our suspicions that good food makes you feel good. Coconut water brand, Vita Coco, advises to fuel our bodies with a balanced diet and get your daily vitamins and keep fuelling your body with nutrient-dense food.
- Lesson three: Life is a balancing act – it can be easy to neglect your own needs and have unbalanced priorities when trying to re-adjust to WFH again. Kim Palmer, founder of wellness and hypnotherapy app for women, Clementine, advised: “When you repeat a ritual regularly your mind starts to recognise it as a cue to relax into whatever it is, so the more you practise the ritual the better the results will be. I would encourage you to find a few rituals during your day that you protect like gold dust.”
- Lesson four: Appreciate the outdoors– one thing that many of us will agree on is that a newfound appreciation for the outdoors has well and truly been found. Oliver Sanchez, founder of Nutrunity UK, explained: “Walking in the park, the countryside or the nearest forest is a breath of fresh air for the lungs, the body and the brain. It can be for half an hour or longer and can be done once a week. Look up to the treetops and at the beauty of nature. Breathe in deeply. Looking up is a sign of optimism to the brain, so make a conscious effort to look ahead when walking and not constantly at your feet!”
- Lesson five: Happiness is a matter of perspective – finally, we come to perhaps the simplest, yet most noteworthy lesson of all: perspective. 2020 was filled with many unwanted things, but one lesson that stands out is an appreciation for the little things. Psychologist and CEO of Conscious Enterprise, Rosie Peacock, suggested: “Take the time back to look over the day, week, month or year and highlight anything positive. Try to compile a joy list of one item per day; things from your personal life, interactions you’ve had, your career or anything that filled you with joy. When listing each item, really take yourself back to the moment so you almost experience it again. Savouring comes in many forms, all of which can work towards intensifying the positives. By practising the process of savouring regularly, we will help ourselves to be grateful for what we have.”
