Hello, I’m Lucy and welcome to my first blog post! Here in the UK, we’re about to enter into our tenth week of lockdown (where has the time gone?!) and whilst measures have been eased and we can now meet one friend outdoors, life is by no means back to normal just yet.

Adjusting to this new ‘normal’ can be difficult and it’s okay if you’re struggling. You’re not alone.
We can get through this together. It’s currently Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK so I thought it was a particularly good time to shared some advice and practical tips on looking after your mental health during this pandemic. I hope you can take something from this post.

1. Get dressed. When you’re not leaving the house, it’s tempting to stay in your pyjamas all day but, I promise you, you’re going to feel 100x better after you’ve showered and dressed. I like to put these seemingly simple tasks on my daily to-do list so that I get the satisfaction of ticking them off. During lockdown, I haven’t been wearing make up often, but, occasionally (say, I have a Zoom call or am meeting a friend for a walk) I like to slick on some mascara and lip balm because it makes me feel that little bit more confident in my appearance and boosts my mood.

2. Move your body. As well all know, exercise releases endorphins, our body’s feel-good chemical. Yoga and walking are lovely, gentle forms of exercise if your energy levels are a little low. I really recommend Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube if you are just starting out with your yoga practice; her videos are easy to follow and are bound to make you feel calmer and more positive as her attitude is infectious. Alternatively, if you want to get your blood pumping and let off some steam, I’ve recently been enjoying HIIT workouts, particularly PE with Joe Wicks live on YouTube, weekdays at 9am. I love starting my day with exercise, as it gives me energy and motivation to take on the rest of the day. Of course, some days you aren’t going to feel like exercising at all and that’s perfectly fine; listen to your body and give it what it needs - that may well be rest.

3. Get some fresh air. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, make use of it! Rather than staying cooped up in the house all day, perhaps take a book outside to read in the sun or if it’s a bit cloudy and cool, simply open your bedroom window to let fresh air circulate. Linking to the previous point about exercise, you could take a walk as it’s proven that spending time in nature boosts mental health and well-being.

4. Reach out to friends and family. Human connection is so vital to good mental health and you may be feeling lonely in lockdown, so I encourage you to reach out to your loved ones; they might appreciate it more than you know, especially elderly grandparents who may live on their own. Ask them how they really, truly are and listen to their response. Sometimes, your attention can be the greatest gift that you can give someone and as the age-old saying goes, “a problem shared is a problem halved” and this really rings true. If you thoughts and feelings are getting a little heavy to carry around on your own, have the courage to share them with a trusted friend or family member. The right people will be glad to listen and offer support because that’s what friends and family are there for, right?

5. Monitor your media consumption. At the moment, the news headlines are very negative and, whilst it is important to stay informed, there is no real benefit to refreshing the news app on your phone every hour. Make sure that you’re getting your news from a reliable source and limit the time you spend reading/watching it perhaps to 30 minutes a day. Also, be cautious of social media platforms like Instagram. Don’t get me wrong, I love Instagram and there are so many amazing accounts sharing positive content but, unfortunately, it’s far too easy to spend hours scrolling, comparing your life to other people’s highlights reel. Comparison is the thief of joy and can leave you feeling less than adequate so I urge you to put down your phone when you find yourself entering an Instagram wormhole. I feel like I could go on about the topic of comparison for hours, so perhaps I will save that for another post!

Finally, I just want to touch upon the pressures to be using this time productively. I applaud you if you’re thriving in lockdown (perhaps you’re learning a new language or getting super fit), but I also applaud you if you’re simply surviving and taking each day as it comes. This is an unprecedented time we are living through and we’re all trying to get to grips with it so please just be patient and kind with yourself and others. After all, this is a pandemic, not a productivity contest.

Thank you for reading this far! I really hope that you are able to take some piece of advice from this post and that it benefits you in some way! Remember, you’re not alone in this struggle and there is light at the end of the tunnel :)

Until next time,
Lucy x