With most of the population in lockdown, it shows no signs of slowing down and isolation can cause even the best of us to show signs of going stir-crazy. There may be an upside to the madness as the lockdown has given most of us ample spare time with seemingly nothing to do with it.
Some people may not have that problem and relish the opportunity to have extra time with which to do things but there are also lots of people who struggle with productivity of their time. If you’ve ever said “I wish I had more time to do ……..”. Well now you do!
Here are 5 tips that will help you structure your days and get you through the lockdown and out the other side as an improved version of the person you were before it.
1. Spend time on your hobbies / Take up a new one
Whether its reading some books you’ve been meaning to for ages or completing a video game you never had time for, do it now. If you finish those then order some more online. Take the time to enjoy yourself and spend time doing things you enjoy. Try and also think outside the box and take the time to take up a new hobby. Obviously if you’ve wanted to take up a new sport it’s out of the question at the moment but there’s nothing to stop you watching and reading things on it to better familiarise yourself with it and you could do something completely different like learn another language.
2. Exercise daily
Isolation doesn’t mean sitting down all the time and being lazy. Not only will you gain weight from that but its also not very good for your mental health and wellbeing. Train daily for a maximum of an hour. You can do this at home, or outside in the garden or somewhere very close to your home that is away from other people and in line with the government guidelines. Exercising daily will not only make you fitter and healthier but it will also boost your mental health immensely so is highly recommended.
3. Practice mindfulness
You don’t need to be a spiritual person to practice mindfulness and its also another thing highly recommended to boost your mental health. Meditation is very popular and continues to grow rapidly as more and more people are experiencing the benefits of it and reaping the rewards. Read about mindfulness exercises and try and practice them for just 10 minutes a day and you’ll find yourself really seeing the difference it makes in your mood and day to day life.
4. Spend time with family
Being stuck at home with your family may drive you crazy at times but its also a welcome blessing as our normal lives usually mean that precious family time is harder to come by. Try and do something as a family every day for at least an hour whether it’s a game or activity. It has to be interactive so watching something on the TV doesn’t count. Choose something you’ll all enjoy or it could also be something completely new to challenge yourselves.
5. Call friends
Social interaction is extremely important for our mental health and its important to keep your social relationships going as you never know who is feeling lonely and suffering during the lockdown. Spend just an hour a day calling round friends and family members and just check in with them and see how they are doing. It will benefit you as well as them and by the end of this it may even have improved our relationships with certain people.
