On March 23rd, 2020, Boris Johnson announced lockdown measures in the U.K. This was to try and combat the spread of the new Virus that was spreading throughout the world; Co-Vid 19.
This Virus is more commonly known as The Corona Virus, and it is a completely new virus to scientists. This means that as of yet, there is no cure, and those that catch the virus are made to stay indoors for 14 days or taken to hospital if symptoms become worse. We don’t know much about the virus, some people can be asymptomatic.
However, those that do show symptoms will have a dry, persistent cough, a high temperature and will experience lack of taste or smell. People who catch this Virus, especially those that are classed as ‘Vulnerable’, may die. As of today, (27th May 2020) there has been 5,644,562 confirmed cases globally.
Many people have been under lockdown restrictions for a few months now. I myself have been under lockdown since March 13th.
We’ve seen many things over the last few months, from the panic shoppers and the lack of toilet paper and pasta in stores, to beloved actor Tom Hanks catching the virus resulting in the media becoming devastated, or people queuing two metres apart to enter stores.
Our world has been completely turned upside down, and we are only beginning to get used to this new way of life.
Times have been distressing for everyone, with death tolls being released every day. Not only that, but children and adults have been sent home from their schools and jobs, without a clue in the world on how to stop themselves from being bored.
With all this darkness seeming to surround us, it’s easy to lose sight of the light. Oh yes, there is hope in this time of uncertainty, and I’m going to help you see it.
1. You need a routine.Â
We’ve gotten used to getting up at 7 O’Clock in the morning, having meals at designated times, doing similar tasks throughout the day, and going to bed at a set time. With this Lockdown, it’s easy to lose track of a routine. It’s ok to have a lie in, afterall we’ve more free time now than ever.
However, it’s important you keep yourself to some form of a routine if possible. Without one, you can easily find yourself bored, you can end up avoiding that schoolwork you’ve been tasked with, and you can end up pulling all-nighters; Staying up to 4am and not waking up until nearly dinner time – Sound familiar?
This scenario isn’t healthy, not only for your physical body that’s gotten used to operating in such a way, but also on your mental health. It’s time to set an alarm for 10am, include a form of exercise in your day and get some of that schoolwork done.
2. Take up a sport.Â
Not only is a bit of exercise beneficial to your body, it’s also great for having a positive mental health.
You can take up any sport that you can easily do on your own while abiding to the social regulations. You can take a walk, take a run, become a cyclist, or you can buy equipment online with all that extra money you’ve been saving and take up badminton. The possibilities are endless – Give yourself a fun challenge!
Before Lockdown, I participated in archery twice a week with my own equipment. Now with this extra time, I’m able to increase my skill and have friendly competitions with my family.
If none of these sport suggestions seem appealing to you, you could walk your dogs. In my case, I’ve to walk all three! (Yes, I own three dogs. The Bichon Frise actually pulls more than the German Shepherd!)
3. Read a book.Â
Or even better – Read several. There’s nothing that beats a good book, especially like jumping out of reality and getting lost in a world of magic, wonder and endless possibilities.
Up to now, I’ve went back in time to Ancient Greece, took part in the search for the Holy Grail, had adventures with Hobbits, fought dragons and visited Hogwarts.
Reading a book transports you into a different world, and with current times as stressful as they are, this is the perfect solution on taking a break from it all.
Even if you’re not a ‘reader’ yourself, there’s no harm in searching the internet for a book that may include your interests, or you can try reading a book that’s common in pop-culture. It also expands your vocabulary, so if you want to have a head start for your English class next term, this is the perfect opportunity.
4. Check up on family and friends.Â
Facetime your best-friend or give your aunt a call. Afterall, we’re all in the same boat. Lockdown and the virus has affected us all.
So, if you find yourself bored, with nothing else to do, check up on someone you care about. I’m sure they’d be glad to hear from you, and it’s nice to be nice!
5. Take up a new Hobby.
Learn to play guitar, or learn a new language, or even learn how to make those special cookies only your grandmother owns the recipe to – I don’t think she’ll mind sharing it under the current circumstances.
Whatever you chose to do, make sure it’s something enjoyable instead of feeling like a forced activity in order to ‘tick off the list’.
Do that one thing you’ve always been meaning to do, but never had the time to do. I’ve started re-learning Spanish (Me llamo Skye y me gusta pollo!)
6. Have commitment and a good work ethic for your projects.
As I’ve briefly mentioned, it’s easy to lose track of all your projects for school. It’s time to complete all that coursework you’ve been avoiding.
I know that it might feel like a big effort, especially when you’re not actually keen on doing it, but trust me, get at it and you can have it completed and out of the way.
Your teachers may need that coursework to use as evidence for your predicted grades, and let’s be honest, it’s actually really rewarding to have it all finished and have the rest of the summer to yourself to do whatever you want!
7. Take a break from Social Media.
I know that with this extra time, I’ve been scrolling my newsfeeds a lot more. By having this extra time and using it for my phone, I’m indulging in toxic articles and news reports that’s going to affect my mental health.
At the minute, Facebook, Instagram, and all other forms of media platforms all seem to be posting about this Virus. We’re submerged in negativity, constantly hearing of death tolls or being told to stay indoors.
Or when we do leave our homes, we must stay two metres apart from other people. While some of this may actually be true, it can be incredibly exhausting to hear about 24-7.
So, if you need to, don’t be afraid to take a break from social media for a few days. Instead, spend that time exploring nature, or spending time with the family in your household. Your followers will be waiting for you when you return.
8. Look after yourself and those within your household.
If things between you and a family member are starting to get heated, take a break from each other by either going for a walk, or spending time in a separate room. If not, use this time to spend time together, whether it be by playing a board game, having deep conversations or simply enjoying the others company. Just think of the minimal time spent between family members in a normal circumstantial day, between the parents going off to work all day to earn an income, or the children spending their day at school. Now, you can appreciate the time you’re getting to spend together, without the distractions of school or work.
9. Use your imagination!
You know yourself better than anyone, so if you find yourself getting bored, do something active that makes you happy. Binge-watch that show on Netflix, do some artwork, play a video-game or read a book.
Regardless of what you choose, try and keep yourself as upbeat and positive as possible. And if you do find yourself in a bad mood, or in the need for a cry – That’s okay too.
Do what best suits you in the moment. We’re living in a difficult and stressful time, but it will get better. It won’t be like this forever.
Most importantly, treat this lockdown like the summer holidays. Pretend that the school year has ended, (It technically has) and even though you’re not in Benidorm or Ibiza right now, make use of the great weather we’ve been having recently.
Don’t think of this time period like you’ve been grounded. Instead, try and be positive about the extra time you have. Most of the points I’ve pointed out on this article are actually things I’ve learnt from personal experience during Lockdown.
When lockdown started, I didn’t have a routine, I avoided my school work and I quickly became demented.
In the end, my mum had to pull me to the side and give me a few tips on how to change how I was feeling, which gave me the idea to write this.
With your lockdown, be creative. Start keeping yourself active. Do what you enjoy and try and be as stress-free as possible. You got this.