I don’t often write these spur of the moment posts anymore. You know, when you just feel like you NEED to write to get out of your own head? We’re into week 2 of lockdown here in the UK and whilst I’m coping with it quite well (let’s be honest, not much has changed for me), I am finding the news a bit overwhelming now. If I don’t do something to distract myself, I’ll end up cutting my own hair or something. I don’t like banana bread.
Photo by Jing Xi Lau on Unsplash
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post about the importance of having things to look forward to. This feels very apt right now because I’ve been in a situation before where I had nothing to look forward to, no light at the end of what could have ended up being a very dark tunnel. And it’s not a nice feeling.
With lockdown feeling like it’s going to go on forever, it’s not going to be uncommon for those feelings to start seeping in to people’s lives. Loneliness and emptiness know no limits. Global pandemic or not. As with everyone, I’ve had a LOT of stuff cancelled due to COVID-19. It’s gutting. Because having plans and things to look forward to is what keeps my mental health afloat a lot of the time.
There’s absolutely nothing we can do about it right now. Apart from following the government guidelines, keeping connected with loved ones and staying hopeful and grateful for everyone putting their lives on the line to help combat this. I’m aware there’s much bigger things to worry about than a couple of cancelled plans.
But our mental health is just as important in this situation. We’re in unprecedented times right now. Nobody really knows how to feel. But I know for me, at least, having positive things to look forward to will help me through this. Here’s my list of things I want to do when all of this is over:
Photo by David Švihovec on Unsplash
Book a holiday to Disneyland Paris
Last year, Carl and I had planned to book a Disneyland Paris trip for this March. I’m not sure why it didn’t happen. You might call it laziness. I personally, call it fate. I’m SO GLAD we didn’t end up booking that trip because due to the timing of everything. We would have been going RIGHT when everything was getting shut down and/or when COVID-19 was spreading very quickly. My boyfriend is high risk (asthma) as well, so we dodged a bullet there. But I need to get back to my happy place!
And before you @ me, I KNOW the image in this post is not the Disneyland Paris castle!
Go to a theme park
I’m not a very theme park person. Since my anxiety started all those years ago and I just kinda got scared to do basically everything. But I used to really enjoy theme parks and rides. And I know I’d enjoy them again, should I have the guts to actually break through that anxiety barrier and go on them. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that life’s too short. So I wanna go to a theme park… again.
Go to Amsterdam
Another trip I had started looking into at the tail end of last year was Amsterdam. I was hoping to get a holiday there this year, preferably around Christmas as I think going around that time of year would be really magical. But again, I didn’t get much further than browsing hotels on booking.com. As soon as is safely possible, I want to knuckle down and book my trip to Amsterdam!
Re-book my solo trip away
I had a little getaway booked for the end of April to Walton-on-the-Naze on my own which obviously had to get cancelled. I was gutted because I’ve worked SO HARD on my anxiety over the last year and the fact that I was at a point to even THINK about going away on my own is something I could have only dreamed of a year ago. I’m really determined not to fall back into old habits, having been stuck inside for so long.
Go on another river cruise holiday on the Norfolk Broads
Carl and I have been on two holidays on the Norfolk Broads in the last few years, where we’ve hired a boat for a week and just cruised for the entire time we’ve been there. They’re incredibly relaxing holidays. And we’ve both mentioned recently that we’d like to do that again and I think after all of this is over, we’re going to need some calm in our lives!
Book a holiday to somewhere warm
Did you know I haven’t been abroad in like… 9 years? My last holiday abroad was Disneyland Paris in 2011. But my last beach holiday abroad was Bulgaria even before that. I haven’t had a proper beach resort, touristy, buffet dinner, lounging by the pool holiday in around a decade and I haven’t wanted one… until now. So I’d love to go back to somewhere like the Canary Islands and just relaaaaax.
Re-evaluate how I spend my time
I think COVID-19 and the excessive measures we’ve all had to take in order to stay safe has definitely made us all reevaluate some things already. For me, it’s how I spend my time. My work / life balance. The time I spend on my phone. The time I spend checking the news. All the things. This is a great chance for us to change going forward.
Eat sushi
Ending with a simple one but my GOD I MISS SUSHI. I think it’s the main food I miss. More than pizza. More than Chinese takeaway. I absolutely love sushi and when this is over and my favourite sushi place is open again, I’m ordering an absolute feast of sushi and I’m going to enjoy every last bite.
What have you got planned for when this is over? Any holidays you want to book? Any days out you want to go on? Any particular food you want to eat? Let me know!
