
According to Dr Radha Modgil, it’s important to maintain a routine and tackle your tasks during lockdown. However, she also recognises the need for self-care. A pandemic is a new experience for us all, so we shouldn’t be hard on ourselves for not adapting well. Having a routine could help your mental health but being hard on yourself for not having one will be a detriment. Fixing your sleep schedule and building motivation can be a lengthy process, but there’s little things you can do to feel accomplished at the end of a day, which I’ll scratch the surface of in this blog.
Keeping Contact
I used to hate face-calling. However, since doing it to reconnect with University friends, I’ve actually enjoyed it. It’s great, not only because I feel better reconnecting with them, but also because it’ll make online classes a bit easier. If anxiety makes answering calls difficult, try checking up on people with a text. Knowing people care is a great feeling in lockdown.
Get Creative
I encourage people to get crafty in lockdown. I’m working on a canvas and it feels great that I’m doing something that feels productive when I’m not working. Look around your house! You’ll never know what supplies you may find. Failing that, you can’t go wrong with pencil and paper. I’ve even drawn some diagrams for my course while bored, which I will hopefully use for the next five years.
Treat Yourself
Your options may feel limited as so many businesses are shut down, but you can still treat yourself. I’ve loved making Dalgona coffee and I encourage the coffee-loving readers to try it (all you need is hot water, sugar, coffee, milk!) Look online for some recipes. My family and I have baked cookies. They’re quick to make but I feel better knowing I’m improving on some cooking/baking skills. It feels great knowing I have the skills to bake for bake sales now, rather than buying muffins from the supermarket and calling it a day.
Closing Words
These are just a few examples but there’s more to do. If you’re able to walk, walk! It’s proven to reduce anxiety and gives you a sense of achievement. Most importantly, give yourself a break. If all you managed to do was get out of bed, that’s great! Focus on the small victories. While work is important, your health is your priority.