Managing stress during the coronavirus lockdown
Being on lockdown hasn’t been easy for some of us. The sudden change to our daily routines and the general feeling of uncertainty has probably left us feeling even more stressed out than we were before. But let’s just step away from those emotions for a bit and focus on things that we can do to manage our stress levels during the lockdown.
1. Stay connected
Yes, we’ve all been calling, texting, emailing, or hopping on to zoom and google hangouts to stay connected.
But if you find that you’re running out of things to talk about, or can’t seem to move the conversation away from all that is happening in the world right now, here are 3 things you can do instead:
- Play online games with friends and family, such as Monopoly, Uno and Scrabble.
- Watch TV with friends remotely (try Netflix Party!).
- Use Google Hangouts or Instagram to host an online ‘pub’ quiz.
2. Exercise
Physical activity is one of the most common methods for relieving stress. Lucky for all of us, there are tons of free classes available online. As a bonus, why not try joining a live workout session on Youtube for more of a community feel?
3. Get inspired by positive stories
American actor, John Krasinski, recently created a Youtube channel called, ‘Some Good News’. His goal is simple: put some positive energy back into the world. Although there are only 2 videos available at the time of writing, his creation of the channel shows that we’re all craving good news right now.
If you need a daily dose of good news, other sources include Uplifting Stories by the BBC and Positive News.
4. Learn a new skill/hobby
Take your mind away from what’s happening in the world by learning a new skill or hobby (or improve on an existing one!).
With free resources available on Youtube, Skillshare and Coursera, you can learn things like baking, sewing, gardening, sign language, Excel, public speaking, and the list goes on.
Don’t forget that when learning a new skill, you’d need to practice patience with yourself, and be proud of what you have achieved!
We hope these tips are useful for you to keep your mind and body healthy during the lockdown. If you continue to feel overwhelmed by stress, please visit the NHS website for more resources and for information on how to get help if you need it.
