Minimising Lockdown Worry & Fatigue

As summer approaches, the UK government has set a tentative plan in an attempt to return to life ‘as near to normal as we can’. Varying can do and cannot do rules are being established throughout Europe and other parts of the world. However, it is still unclear as to when retail shops, schools, restaurants and other public spaces will be open and how they will function once they do; leaving many of us anxious about what the world will look like and when. We’re anxious to get out of our homes, but we worry about personal safety as well as the safety of others.

How can we minimise both lockdown fatigue and new worries?

1. Reaching out to others: relaying our fears to a trusted counsellor or loved one can provide relief. We may find ourselves withdrawing from communication check-ins as lockdown eases, but it is important to keep communicating.
2. Control: focus on the things you can control rather than worry about matters out of your control. If you find that your mind spirals ‘down the rabbit hole’ of negativity, focus on something you can influence, like what movie you’ll watch tonight or what meals you’ll cook this week.
3. Gratitude: make a list of the important things you are grateful for- this can become a daily journal of gratitude. Express your gratitude to others and ask what they are grateful for.

There are a number of other methods to combat worry, from physical exercise to mindfulness techniques. It is important to continually practice combatting worry and to not ignore physical symptoms of stress. During the height of lockdown, you may have established routines that helped ease your day-to-day anxiety, don’t leave a routine quite yet if it has provided a sense of stability.

It is also important to reflect on any positives that may have resulted due to quarantine. Did you try new things? Speak to people you needed to reach out to more? Find a physical activity you enjoy? Focusing on any good that has resulted because of a negative experience can help us achieve a wholesome perspective on our accomplishments. Focus on what you can continue to achieve or look forward to as we transition into a new phase of regulation.