Combatting Anxiety in Lockdown

To-do List

I know at the minute we do not have much to do. However, making a list the night before can give us a little bit of purpose for the next day. This list does not have to be full of difficult tasks. It can just be list of stuff that you plan to do tomorrow which will include work, but it should also include stuff you enjoy. For example: facetime a friend, go on a walk, watch a film, have a bath, etc.

Try to Keep to a Routine

Keeping to a routine is hard at the minute. It does not have to be anything set in stone or strenuous. A routine should just be that you plan on getting up at a similar time every day, make sure you do some form of exercise and look after your body. Some days are tough, and you might not want to get out of bed, but forcing yourself to get up, have a shower and get dressed will decrease your anxiety.

Exercise is Key

I have said this a lot in my blogs, but exercise is so important. It is also really important at the moment because we are stuck in our house’s so we do not move about as much. You should aim for doing 30-minutes of exercise each day. This does not have to be anything out of your comfort zone, it could just be some gentle stretches, or a nature walk. The aim is to do something that you will enjoy so you are more motivated to do it. You could video call a friend and do a workout together, whatever is best for you.

Work Little and Often

This is more aimed at students but in some cases, it can help people doing their jobs from home as well. Doing little 30-minute blocks throughout the day with 10-minute breaks will be more effective then trying to do a straight 4 hours of work. There is no way you can concentrate for that long so the best way to keep productive and produce good quality work is by doing little bits throughout the day. This will also relieve your mind of stress too. In your breaks you should do something completely different, get up away from your desk. This enables your brain to distinguish work from play.

Turn That Screen Off

Everyone says it but not a lot of people listen. Staying off your phone for an hour before bed increases your chances off sleep. This is good for your anxiety because by having a good night's

sleep it will prevent your anxiety from being worse. Instead of being on your phone you could write down your thoughts of the day. This can be anything, w

hat you have done that day or how you feel. I personally put whatever thoughts pop into my head. This is a way of getting my thoughts out of my head and going to bed with a clear mind.