BEATING THE LOCKDOWN BLUES

  In previous years Blue Monday usually begins at 00:00 hours on the date, and ends at 23:59 that same day. This year has been different. For me, Blue Monday began on the 5th of January: the beginning of the third National Lockdown, and hasn't yet ended. The usual connotations surrounding Blue Monday: sadness, and loneliness, have most certainly lingered around for more than the allocated 24 hours. 

  This lockdown has meant so many different things to each and every one of us. For me this lockdown has meant: that I'm not in Australia with my boyfriend, that I didn't go straight from my undergraduate degree to studying for my masters, that I'm not in a full-time post-grad job, and that I'm missing my family and friends. For others the lockdown has brought: unemployment and no income, cancelled weddings, the loss of loved ones, working the whole way through, and missing out on time with loved ones (just to name a few). 

  So... Do you hear what I'm saying? There are an infinite amount of ways that we are all individually effected by the pandemic and we truly cannot know, to the full extent, how those around us are feeling. 

  With this in mind it's now time to beat the blues and manifest some positivity into our lives! 

My top tips for overcoming the lockdown blues:

• First thing's first: sit down and take a long hard think! Is there anything that you've been wanting or needing to do? Draw up a mind map in a journal, or more conventionally type up a new note on your phone, and get down your ideas. Just while we're on this topic, by the way buy a notebook or a diary! There's something so therapeutic about writing down your thoughts and feelings.  

• Get up and get out. Something that has really helped me, probably the most, during these uncertain times has been getting out first thing in the morning to stretch my legs in the fresh air. Listening to your favourite music in the great outdoors, whether this be on a power walk, dog walk, a walk to the shops (for those essential items), a scenic hike, or a run, really helps to clear your mind and releases those positive endorphins. 

• Make a playlist full of your favourite music. If you’re like me, where the music that you listen to really has an effect on your mood, then why not make a few different playlists? Playlists containing: chilled out songs, songs that remind you of good times, great anthems that make you want to sing as loud as you can, comforting songs for when you’re feeling a little down. This way you’ll always have your favourite tunes to hand no matter your mood! 

• Turn even the smallest things into an occasion. Recently we’ve all been lacking opportunities to get dressed up and feel nice, so let’s turn thing’s that we do in day-to-day life into an occasion. Wednesday night dinner? Get dressed up. Dog walk? Get dressed up. Not posted on Instagram in a while? Get dressed up. Having a pyjama day? Get your best ones on. Someone’s birthday or special occasion? Get dressed up. Zoom call? Get dressed up. Food shop? Pop some makeup on and, yes you guessed it, get dressed up! 

• Start a new hobby. There’s always the usual excuses that do the rounds when it comes to trying out a new hobby: ‘but I don’t have time for that’, ‘I’m too busy’, ‘I’ve got more important things to do’, but now that most of us now have more time on our hands than usual it is the perfect time to swerve the excuses and try something new! 

You could:

• Learn how to knit. 
• Teach yourself how to cook or bake some interesting recipes. 
• Practice journalling.
• Familiarise yourself with a new language.
• Take up a new sport: Yoga, Running, Hiking, HIIT workouts, Hula Hooping. 
• Start home-brewing wine.
• Get creative: drawing, painting, calligraphy. 
• Start a new DIY project: build something for the house, do up your garden in time for summer, make an item of clothing. 

• Complete some tasks that you’ve been putting off.  I love writing out daily ‘to-do lists’ and ticking them off throughout the day. That feeling of relief and accomplishment when you tick off a task that you’ve been putting off for a while is second to none. 

Why not: 

• Have a Spring clear out?
• Upload some unwanted clothes onto Depop, or donate them to a charity?
• Manage your financial accounts?
• Explore career prospects? 

• Compile a reading list. Whether you’re a passionate and avid reader or not, most of us have a wishlist of books that we would love to dive into. Have a search for this year’s must reads and jot some of these down, along with your own personal list, and read your way through the list. I’ve recently read ‘The Midnight Library’ and absolutely loved it!

• Find some binge worthy content: podcasts, films, series. 

• Self care. Make sure that you pencil in some allocated self care time into your weekly-schedule. Whether you designate a whole morning, 30 minutes a week, or 5 minutes a day for self care, I’m certain that it’ll leave you feeling uplifted and content. 

Here are some ideas for you to try out: 

• Paint your nails.
• Spend more time in the shower: hair-mask, shave your legs, have a pamper.
• Apply some fake tan.
• Have a nice long soak in the bath with a: bath bomb, wine, book, or your favourite show.
• Write up a daily, or weekly, list of positive things that happened that you’re grateful for.
• Have some downtime before bed. Move away from technology and put your feelings onto paper. 
• Take care of a plant. 
• Take the time to talk to family and friends. 
• Write up a list of things that you’re looking forward to, or would like to do, once we’re out of these strange times. 

• Organise a Zoom call. Of course you’re more than likely already clued up on this one as Zoom was everywhere we turned in 2020. It is of no surprise to learn that ‘Zoom’ was one of 2020’s buzzwords! People all over the world were utilising the platform for an array of reasons: social, work, education, healthcare appointments. So let’s continue the Zoom hype into 2021. As the pubs, and other social settings, are still shut off to the public then a virtual video call may just be our next best bet to satisfy our need to communicate with each other. 

• Invest in some new feel-good clothes. As hugs are a thing of the past at the moment then why not buy some cosy items that will satisfy the need we have to feel comforted? I have recently purchased: new PJ's, loungewear, fluffy socks, a new hoodie, and a hot water bottle. And, let me tell you, they worked like a dream! 

  The main message to take away from this post is pretty simple: don’t let yourself get too bogged down about things that are out of our control, instead, do what makes you happy! The list of pick-me-ups is, of course, endless, just try new things out and see what works out best for you.