The text below is taken from an article on the website of “Good Thinking – Digital Mental Wellbeing for London” www.good-thinking.uk
“If you brushed your teeth today and got showered and ate something and spent ten minutes not looking at the news then well done, it’s an achievement.” Matt Haig, author and mental health campaigner.
Do you feel like all the days are blurring and that you’re stuck? As we come to terms with another lockdown, it can be hard to stay upbeat. The pressures of work and home schooling combined with concerns about your family’s health and finances might feel quite overwhelming. If your community has suffered the impact of COVID-19 more than others, you might feel angry and upset. On top of all this, you might be missing loved ones, finding it difficult not having your usual daily routine and wondering when life might get back to some kind of normal.
This Groundhog Day feeling (the sense that you’re re-living the same day over and over and feel trapped) can be frightening so it’s more important than ever to recognise that things are changing. A huge amount of progress was made in 2020 and there is now a pathway out of the pandemic. Scientists have a better understanding of how COVID-19 is transmitted, testing facilities are in place and there are now tried-and-tested treatments for the disease. Most importantly, the NHS has embarked on the UK’s largest ever mass vaccination programme, which will offer every adult in the country the coronavirus vaccine by the autumn.
Although you might be fed up of staying at home and finding it really tough to follow the official guidance right now, please stick with it. You’re doing something extremely important – protecting yourself, your family, your community and the NHS. As we head towards spring, the light at the end of the tunnel should get brighter.
In the Groundhog Day film, Bill Murray’s character initially fights against what’s happening to him. It’s only when he realises that if he reacts differently – with kindness, generosity and a focus on learning new skills – the outcome will be better. To help you feel less frustrated and more hopeful at this time, Good Thinking and Thrive LDN have put together these tips. Whether lockdown is making you feel anxious, irritable, lonely, bored or just a bit meh, we’re here to help.
Click here to read five tips that might help you
