With June 21st set as the earliest date that England will leave lockdown, our thoughts are all turning to the future a bit more and the idea that life may well return to some level of normality sooner rather than later.
As welcoming as this news certainly is, no doubt this is causing some people out there post-lockdown anxiety, worrying about how well they’ll adjust to a new routine, as well as health concerns, issues around social distancing, going on public transport, being more sociable… there’s definitely a lot to think about at the moment.
It’s important to take steps to manage your anxiety, as it can quickly become quite overwhelming - and talking about your feelings is a great place to begin.
If you have someone close to you with whom you can share your concerns, why not give them a phone call? You may find it’s a huge weight off your shoulders, simply just verbalising how you’re feeling.
However, it can sometimes be easier to share your thoughts and feelings with someone you’re not close to, such as an online therapist. Counselling and therapy can prove really beneficial and you’ll find yourself in a judgement-free space, allowing you to really say what’s on your mind.
Building resilience is also key when it comes to managing mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and stress, and you can help this by making sure you’re getting enough sleep each night, not drinking too much alcohol and following a healthy diet. Exercise is also an amazing mood-booster, so try to get at least 30 minutes of brisk activity every day.
Planning ahead is another strategy that could prove useful if you’re worried about certain upcoming situations. Think about what it is specifically that’s making you feel anxious and come up with a plan about how you’re going to tackle it.
This can be really empowering and you may well find that once you know how you’re going to approach something, you feel significantly less anxious about it.
Going at your own pace is essential, however, and try not to let yourself feel pressured into an activity or a situation that you don’t feel comfortable participating in. Only do what you feel happy with doing, but by the same token, make sure that you are challenging yourself to get out and about once again.
To help you with any feelings of anxiety you may have between now and June 21st, why not try some mindfulness meditation?
This is an excellent way of anchoring yourself in the present moment, allowing all your worries and fears to fade into the background - and there are all sorts of different breathing exercises you could try. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with us today.