Tips for managing anxiety during lockdown

Right now, it’s hard to predict when anywhere in the UK or, indeed, the rest of the world, will return to normalcy. It’s hard to predict a lot of things, and most of those unpredictables are also out of our immediate control. Unfortunately, all that uncertainty is also fertile ground for stress and anxiety, both of which can affect your health and your general well-being, especially as lockdown seems to be extending for longer and longer. Managing anxiety during lockdown can be challenging.

Since what is going on in the world is outside your control, let’s talk about what you can control: how you react to world events. Here are some tips to help you keep your anxiety levels low during this period of isolation.

1 – Limit your news intake

How much news are you watching every day? Chances are, you are probably watching a lot more than usual due to a combination of having more free time and being more worried than usual. The problem is that watching the news when you are afraid can quickly become a feedback loop — you are scared, so you watch more news, which makes you more afraid, which makes you watch more news.

No one is saying you should close your eyes to the world. But try to get in control of your daily news diet. Instead of binging cable news for several hours at a time, try to set aside just one or two hours a day to figure out what’s going on in the world, see if you need to adjust any of your behaviours in accordance with the latest findings, and then put it out of your mind.

One good trick is to watch less and read more, as written journalism tends to be much less alarmist, and reading allows you to absolve a more substantial amount of complex information in a shorter period.

You might also consider the type of journal that summarises the week’s events, offering various viewpoints. A good example is The Week. Even better, focus on the good news with a journal such as Positive News to really lift your spirits.

2 – Invest in long-term projects

You need something you can dedicate yourself to as you stay inside. What works for you will depend on how much free time you have, of course. Single parents who are now working remotely may very well find themselves with less free time now than they did before the quarantine.

Either way, a long-term project can make time flow by more smoothly, without each day feeling like so much of a drag. It can be something simple, like reading a long book series you’ve been meaning to start for ages, or finally binging that TV show your friends always recommend to you. Or it can be something more meaningful and complex, like writing a novel, or your life memories, or maybe picking up a new skill like dancing. Whatever allows you to build and progress towards an objective day by day.

3 – Manage your health

Plenty of unhealthy habits can make you more vulnerable to suffering from extreme anxiety. Maintaining a healthy diet combined with regular cardiovascular exercise can do wonders towards keeping your mind clear, and your anxiety levels down. If you haven’t already found an easy exercise routine that works for you, try the Simple Lockdown Workout recommended by Cris Ramis.

Or, if possible, go out for walks or runs while maintaining social distancing. Going out can be healthier and help you relax, but it should always be done following the current Government and local guidelines.

You might find that adopting the principles of Feng Shui might help you find coping mechanisms. And we have already stressed the importance of a healthy diet but, as nutritionist Jane Hickey explains, you can actually reduce levels of anxiety with your food choices.

While it is might be tempting to increase levels of alcohol consumption, smoke too much, or even consider illicit substances, in the longer term all these options will create even more problems, and they will certainly damage your health and increase your stress levels. Far better to consider the use of supplements and non-psychotropic remedies like the ones found at www.cibdol.com for example, to help manage anxiety during lockdown and stay healthy.

Image by John Hain from Pixabay