A couple of weeks ago, lots of areas were being plunged back into local lockdowns - including my local area, Sheffield. We were in Tier 3 now, a disappointing backward step after we have spent so long getting used to our new normal. This level of uncertainty had taken a bit of a toll on my mental outlook - and I’m sure we are struggling in our own ways. On 31st October, Boris announced new stricter lockdown measures effectively taking us all back into a full lockdown - closing gyms, non-essential shops and stopping our social lives.

A recent poll by the Office of National Statistics found that overall life satisfaction has fallen to a new low. Before the pandemic, the average score was 7.3, however the latest score is 6.7, showing that the last 7 months of uncertainty has got us all feeling down.

If you are struggling with the new restrictions then I have written this blog post for you. What can we do to make ourselves feel better during the new lockdown restrictions?

One of the main problems I am hearing from my clients is that they have lost their sense of control and are feeling generally anxious about the whole situation. This is a totally normal response, please don’t feel bad for feeling this way.

When we already feel anxious, any small issue can make us feel overwhelmed. Issues at work and arguments with your significant other often feel so much worse if we are already feeling stressed and anxious.

An issue that I have found is that my positive body image has taken a little downturn and my negative self-talk has increased. I have been thinking about engaging in dieting behaviours again, mostly by calorie counting. The awareness of ‘why’ these thoughts are happening helps me to push them aside. For me, I seek to find control in calorie counting as life at the moment feels stressful and chaotic. I know dieting or emotional eating will not make me feel better in the long term.

In situations like this, self care is of the utmost importance. At the moment, many of our go-to self care methods have been taken away from us - meeting family & family, meals out, heading to the gym, travelling to new places, even a simple cuddle. It will really help if you can find time for yourself at the moment and start showing up for yourself.

If you aren’t lucky enough to be able to form a support bubble with any friends & family then it can be hard. I would encourage you to drop your friend a text or even just a GIF to let them know you are thinking of them. If you are able to meet them in the park for a socially distancing walk, do it. Call a friend via Zoom so you can actually see their lovely face - it will do you the world of good to get some human contact. Talk to them about how you are feeling, you’ll probably find that they are feeling the same, we often feel better by simply expressing our feelings out loud.

If you are back working from home then try to maintain a simple routine in order to feel more in control. Maybe a morning walk followed by a nourishing breakfast before sitting at your desk? You could even have an early start in order to make space for an afternoon meditation session - whatever matters to you, make time for it.

In my area of Sheffield, I am surrounded by local independent shops. Even though my income has taken a little nosedive recently, I am trying to support these local businesses as much as I can. Many of these shops are now being closed for a whole month during their busiest period so I am looking at how i can support them through online purchases. I am using them to support my self-care habits - finding new ingredients for cooking nutritious meals, treating myself to a little face mask or a buying a new book for reading time. I’m supporting my neighbours by spending in these local businesses, I feel I am engaging in my community and helping keep them in business.

Last but not least is movement and exercise - gyms and exercise classes are now closed. Movement is one of the best ways for me to deal with stress or anxiety so I will struggle with this new development. Remember that all movement is valid, whether you do hiking, weightlifting in your bedroom, online yoga classes, climbing or swimming in the Peaks - find time in your routine and do it. Think about how it makes you feel, both physically and mentally, if you are feeling the benefit then carry on. If not, try something else! A good way to stay motivated is to set small manageable goals - build up to running a mile without stopping or push the weights up a little.

This list is by no means exhaustive, these are the things that make me feel better - the key is to show up for yourself, appreciate your body and mind and treat yourself like you deserve.