We had hoped that we wouldn’t be in this situation again following the first lockdown, but we are. The Prime Minister has announced that there will be restrictions, similar to the first lockdown until December 2 following which we should return to the tier system. For many it will be a feeling of déjà vu and possibly, ‘oh no, not again!’ or ‘been there, seen it and done it!’ Perhaps your emotions are heightened, feelings of panic, anxiety, worry and fear are creeping in and you are apprehensive of what is to come. But perhaps you shouldn’t be dreading it as much as the first time as maybe, this time around, things can be different. In this article from Becoming Aware, we look at trying to relax and going with the situation, as it’s your mindset that will help to reveal the opportunities and take you away from dwelling on the negatives.
Think of the second lockdown as an opportunity
It’s normal in life for things to repeat themselves. We only have to think about the patterns of our relationships, the repetition involved with our jobs, our friendships, and our children’s behaviour, which is all repeated. I know myself that in therapy, it’s the repetition that aids the release of the past and reprogrammes the mind. Everything we are presented with in life is a learning curve in some way. The current situation is no different and now we have the opportunity of taking a different path. Think about the things you didn’t achieve last time or the things you failed to do; you now have another opportunity. Again, on a personal note, I’m determined to get the downstairs of my home painted! The world is changing and for whatever reason the more we resist, the harder it will be for ourselves.
Tips for getting through
· Write a list of all the things you didn’t get done – make sure you add some small ones, so you can get started straightaway
· Be realistic about what you can achieve
· Get in touch with someone you have not contacted for a while
· Establish some social interaction online
· Set realistic goals
· Exercise every day
Longer tasks to fill your time
For those people who find themselves on their own and perhaps are not working, it will be good to write things on your list that will demand more of your time. You could think about a ‘Bucket List’ of the things you plan to do when this will be over – and it will be.
· Write a journal
· Compose your life history
· Start a new hobby - calligraphy, painting
· Decorate a room
· Organise your wardrobe or kitchen cupboards
· Create a vision board
· Think of things you love to do and schedule them in, if possible
Your mindset will determine how easy or conversely how difficult it will be for you
This situation is temporary and it will change again. In the grand scheme of your life, it’s just a short period of time. Your mindset will largely determine how easy, or difficult it will be to get through. You can’t change what’s happening, but you can change how you feel about it. By changing how you feel, your experience will change and improve. Many people will be in worse situations, but remember it’s OK to FOCUS ON YOU. Over analysing and looking too deeply at the big picture can become overwhelming. If you are on your own, like me, it’s so important to know that you are going to be OK and it can be easier if you plan for yourself. You now have some experience and from what you already know, you can think how you would have done things differently. Go with it – you might be surprised!
How Becoming Aware can help you
If you feel that you need to seek the help of a professional during this second lockdown period, please contact me, Karen Hoad from Becoming Aware. I’m a qualified and experienced Emotional Healing & Wellbeing Practitioner and spoke to many people regularly during the first lockdown giving them mental and emotional support. Call Becoming Aware on 07766 427966 for a free without obligation chat or email karen@becomingaware.co.uk
