Another lockdown. It’s probably ok if you have a job and have been furloughed. You can get by on 80% of your salary, right? Things might be a little tight but it’s ok, isn’t it? All you have to worry about is all that time you now need to fill.
It’s not as simple as that, of course. A 20% reduction in salary hits many of us hard, especially at this time of year. We worry about the bills we have to pay. We worry about how we’re going to afford Christmas. We worry about our children, our parents and our friends. And we worry about the future. How much longer is this virus going to be around, impacting our lives, stopping us from what we want to do, stopping us from being with our loved ones?
It can be easy to succumb to this fear. Anxiety levels rise and eventually depression kicks in. So what can we do to prevent that? Here are just a few simple ideas, you’ve probably heard them all before, but it’s worth reminding ourselves so that lockdown 2.0 doesn’t become much harder than the first one.
1. Stay in touch with your friends and family. If you can’t meet in person, make sure you speak to them online or on the phone. Maintaining our connections with people is vital right now. If you don’t want to burden your loved ones with your worries, remember that most counsellors offer online sessions as well at the moment.
2. Exercise and enjoy some time in nature. Studies have shown that spending time outdoors helps to reduce stress and anxiety, as does exercise. An hour’s walk every day can help you relax, sleep better and stay focused on what matters most.
3. Eat sensibly. If you’re working from home, the fridge always seems to be calling but trust me, the contents don’t need to be checked every 30 minutes. Limit yourself to what you would normally eat at work and if temptation gets the better of you, try one of the other suggestions like exercise or speaking to a friend or colleague.
4. Upskill. There’s not so much we can do in the garden at this time of year so this is the perfect opportunity to gain a new qualification, especially with the government encouraging us to retrain in different fields and so many free courses to chose from right now. This will keep your mind active and give you a sense of purpose and accomplishment as well as hope for the future.
These are just a few ideas. Remember that the majority of counsellors are available during the lockdown. Here at Cue Counselling & Coaching we offer online sessions via Zoom which are proving popular due to the convenience of not having to travel. We also offer “walking therapy” sessions now if you prefer to talk in person. These are walks in nature, with appropriate social distancing so you’re getting your exercise in at the same time! To book, just give us a call or send a message. 😊
