There’s a thousand and one ways to describe lockdowns and ‘fun’ is rarely one of them. But if restricting movement is part of our pandemic survival toolkit, then so be it. Of course, it doesn’t make lockdowns any easier. Whether you’re in your 2nd, 3rd or 4th (you poor thing!) lockdown, here are some practical ways to survive a lockdown and keep your head above water in these testing times.
Exercise
We all know that regular exercise pays fantastic dividends. Improved heart health, stronger muscles and bones, and better mood thanks to a rush of endorphins; the benefits of an exercise routine that you love and commit to on a frequent basis is truly endless.
Yet one of the first things to go during a lockdown is our exercise regimen.
While we may not be able to access gyms and group classes right now, treat this as a gentle reminder to make sure you’re intentionally making time for movement during your day. Not only is exercise vital for ensuring that you remain fit during your stay at home but it can, at the minimum, make you feel like you’ve achieved something during your day.
YouTube is your best friend when it comes to free workouts or get crafty using household items to recreate your gym workout at home.
If you didn’t have a weapon workout of choice before lockdown (mine was Pilates!), start with walking. In many States, outdoor exercise is one of the few reasons you can exit your home and so many have rediscovered their neighbourhood by doing a daily lap around their area.
Walking is an especially good idea if lockdown is driving you up the wall and you need something to take your mind off what’s happening inside the home. Just grab your phone (but leave your headphones at home!) and walk it out.
Take in your surroundings. Check out how green grass looks. Notice the birds just going about their business. Listen to the sounds in your neighbourhood. Make it a sensory experience and come back home refreshed and re-orientated.
Get in the Sun
Like exercise, we are well-versed on the importance of getting sunlight. From strengthening your bones, improving sleep quality, promoting good mental health and reducing blood pressure, there’s way too many reasons why you should be embracing sunlight.
While we all quarantine at home with artificial lighting, our sleep patterns can turn into a complete mess. The lack of exposure to natural light can led to elevated levels of cortisol and decreased melatonin at night which makes it harder for us to fall asleep.
This is why it’s important for you to intentionally go out into the sun during your day. The best way to do this would be to exercise outdoors. But if this isn’t an option for you, spend 10-30 minutes sitting near a window or in your front yard/back yard/balcony pretending you’re at your favourite Bali beach club.
Just don’t forget to put on your sunscreen!
Enjoy the sun. But do it safely.
Support a Small Business
Lockdowns are especially tough for small businesses. With all of us coming in and out of lockdowns, predictability and certainty have been completely thrown out the window for many Australian small businesses. If you want to support your local and have the financial ability to do so, there’s no better time to put your money where you mouth is. Whether it be doing your grocery shop at the corner store or buying a local product you’ve put off until Christmas, now’s the time to spend a little to help the community get past this rough patch.
And feel good about helping out a fellow human.
If you’re being conscious of your spending, there’s still plenty of other ways to support a small business without buying anything.
You can:
1. Write a Google Review for your favourite restaurant/cafe/pub/bar
2. Show some social media love – like/comment/reshare a post from one of your favourite shops/service providers
3. Sign up to their newsletters so learn about their deals first hand!
Call Your Mum
…or dad, sister, brother, bestie, friend you haven’t seen in 2 years. Heck, call your telco to complain about your wifi speed. The point is talk to someone.
Prioritise human interaction.
This is especially true if you’re living alone. If you’re in lockdown with another person, you’ll have the luxury of someone to talk to face to face on weekends. But if you live alone, weekends can feel eerily quiet. The good news is that others are very likely to feel the same way and there’s nothing like a human conversation to make you feel, well, human again.
And remember there’s always help. When things feel like they’re starting to hit the fan (ie – you’ve noticed your mood changing, sleep patterns are out of sync, your work performance is slipping and your day to day just isn’t feeling right), reach out to these services for a chat.
We’re fortunate to be in a time where asking for help has become normalised, so click that link if you feel that you need to speak to someone about your mental health.
No shame. Just real love.
Go Dark
The internet can be a dark place when you’re in lockdown. You either fall down the path of being hyper productive blazing through one digital certificate after another or you get serious FOMO from scrolling social media.
The internet is great for helping us stay connected during a time where we must be physically a part. But being constantly stuck to our devices for stimulation can have our minds finding it hard to really focus and settle.
Whatever path you take, remember to put aside time for breaks. Set out specific times during the day where you disconnect and do an activity which doesn’t require the internet.
Cook, read a book, meditate, do mindful colouring or sketching. Choose an activity that will slow your mind down, recalibrate your senses and help you focus again.
You’ve got this, champ.