While things outside of our front doors are strange and stressful right now, I have felt that 2020 as brought a new type of normal with much of it that I love. However saying that, a pandemic is stressful – and we are all brand new in knowing how to deal with it! We’re in this together, though, and by working together, we can ensure that we are able to get through lockdowns, quarantines and social distancing without much issue.
Trying to get through lockdown isn’t always easy, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use the time to be creative and figure out how to keep your head together and not fall apart as well as look after your physical well being. It’s in thinking about what you can do to stay sane and healthy too, that will ensure that you are navigating lockdowns smoothly. So, let’s talk ten ways you can stay healthy and happy during a pandemic!
Don’t Give Up On What You Love
The pandemic has changed the way that many people think. So many out there have let their hobbies and the fun things that they do slump into nothingness. The thing is, you can still enjoy everything what ever made you happy. If you love fashion, use the time to sort out your wardrobe and sift out all of the items that you no longer want and order online the items you want to replace. You may not be able to go out to your favourite shops, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the thing you love! Fashion is still happening – even with lockdown. The same can be said for a range of other hobbies and interests, and you should use the time spent in lockdown to enjoy what you love, not leave it.
Celebrate (even though it is a pandemic)
You may be stuck at home and missing out on birthday parties and Christmas parties potentially too but that doesn’t mean that you can’t spend time celebrating. Get the computer out and stream your Zoom calls to the large TV in the lounge. You can get a party going by sharing it with various households and you can all come together and celebrate. It’s a great excuse for every household to have a cake and decorations, too!
Start A New Hobby
While you don’t want to let go of the hobbies you already enjoy, you can still start something new. You can easily get sucked into the TV shows on Netflix, but screen time can feel ever so lazy when you’re doing it day after day! Get yourself busy. You can still order online and buy a sewing machine and use YouTube tutorials to teach yourself how to sew. You have to find yourself something to do and if that means learning a whole new skill, go for it!
Dance Party
Are there kids in the house? Well, whether it’s a house of children or it’s just you and a partner, have a dance party. Dress up in your favourite clothes, cook some party food and crank up the music. It’s a nice way to get your body moving, you can have fun and you can enjoy the music, too. It’s a fun way to enjoy yourself and you can get the kids moving, too. Dancing it out can help you to feel healthier, too, and it can make lockdown seem a lot more fun!
Go For A Walk
Lockdown or not, you can still get out for a walk and some fresh air. It’s a good way to stay sane – bright skies and fresh air does wonders for the spirits. Enjoying the great outdoors is a good way to get out and just be in a different space. This has been a game changer for me, enjoying up to two hour walks which I hope to continue.
Learn To Cook
If you’ve been living on microwave meals and sandwiches, it’s time to use your time wisely and put your efforts into learning to cook. You can try new food and turn your hand at any cuisine you like, and there will always be YouTube videos out there to teach you to make something new. Food art is a very real thing, so bake, saute and fry to your heart’s delight.
Pick Up Some Exercise
Even if you don’t want to get outside and run, and even if the gyms are closed, you can still enjoy exercise. There are plenty of free online workouts, workout DVDs and fitness bites that you can enjoy online. You can choose from kickboxing, cardio, ballet and more. You can even do Yoga and Pilates and enjoy yourself at the same time. Workouts don’t have to be boring and you can feel good within yourself. I have two more runs to complete in the Couch 2 5K and I am so not a runner! It can make you stir crazy to be stuck inside, so give yourself a reason to feel alive!
Be Thankful
You have the time right now to reflect and think about everything that you’re thankful for in your life. You can think about all of the things that you want to do in life and how you want to overcome things that you need to overcome. You have to think about the things in your life that you have been struggling with and use the time to come up with a plan to finally let them go. You can be thankful that you are alive and well right now and vow to do something more with lies after lockdown.
Rest
Life right now is hard, but we spend so much time glorifying burnout. The harder you work and the more you make, the more you celebrate. While hard work should always be celebrated, your lack of sleep and your lack of rest is going to hurt you rather than help. You need to use the time to relax and rest. Working from home gives you more space to rest where you can.
Plan Ahead
When all is said and done, you can bet that lockdown WILL come to an end, and you need to plan your future. There is a life beyond the pandemic, and you can get your plans in place whether those are in slowing down a little or enjoying life more!
Now I recognise for some, lockdown and the pandemic has been a total nightmare. But I know for me, I am taking so much from it (good and bad). My walks in the countryside, time spent relaxing, enjoying my garden and even spending more time with my often grumpy kids has been something that I will cherish. But I am SO looking forward to getting back to gigs, theatre, art galleries and seeing more of my extended family. Look after yourselves x
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