AD – This is a paid advertorial but all thoughts are my own

Over the course of the last couple of months, there’s been a HUGE shift in focus on how to look after your mental health during this stressful, unprecedented time we’re all living in right now. COVID-19 and lockdown was something none of us expected. Yet we WERE all expected to deal with it. Because hey, we had no other choice.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

But as time goes on, we’re edging closer and closer to getting back to normal. Albeit, perhaps a new type of normal. But normal nonetheless. With children going back to school. Adults going back to work. Shops, bars and restaurants opening again. And daily responsibilities are back on the to-do list.

So as soon as we all had to adapt to this new way of life in lockdown, it’s time to re-adapt back to how it was before. It’s a big ask. It’s a big thing to have to go through. It’s not normal. And it’s going to affect a lot of people, in a lot of different ways.

So I think it’s important to take some time to discuss measures we can take in order to look after our mental health when all this is over. When COVID-19 is said and done and the world continues on as if nothing ever happened.

But of course that’s not going to be the case. For those who have lost someone through this awful virus. For those who lost their jobs. For those who struggled with money. For the doctors and the nurses on the front-line. AND for those of us who perhaps don’t fall into one of those categories.

Because living through a global pandemic is a seriously mentally draining thing.

So before we get into the tips, let’s just take a moment to give ourselves a pat on the back and a moment of gratitude for getting through this tough season of life. Well, it’s not the end just yet but you’ve made it this far and that deserves a celebration in itself.

Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

Seek help if you need it

There would be absolutely no shame in admitting that you might need extra help dealing with what you’ve just been through. So I urge you to seek help if you need it. Discuss therapy with your GP or contact the mental health services in your area directly. If you need to talk to an unbiased individual quickly, then I’d recommend calling The Samaritans.

Related read: Does CBD Oil Help Anxiety

Lean on your faith and beliefs

Whatever you believe and wherever your faith lies, now might be a good time to lean on it more than ever. If your faith is there for guidance then chances are, you’re probably going to be a bit of extra guidance right now. I don’t talk about faith or belief much here and I won’t go into detail. But I believe heavily in the universe and Law of Attraction (as well as other things) and I’ve been putting a LOT of focus into that during this time.

There are plenty of things you can do and buy in order to help in this instance. If you go to church, then perhaps attending more regularly might benefit you. If you believe in the power of crystal healing, perhaps now is the time to invest in some new crystals.

The I Am Band, pictured above, is something else that people with a spiritual predisposition might be interest in looking further into. The I Am Band is designed to block negative feelings, spiritual influences, create positive energy, boost health and more. It helps keep your energy clear and your aura positive and is particularly useful for releasing negative thoughts and feelings, anxiety and every day stress.

Talk about how you’re feeling

Your friends and family have been through the same thing that you have. And although naturally, we all have different experiences, it’s not very often we can all collectively discuss having been through the same thing. So when it’s completely safe to meet up with friends and family, ensure you nourish those connections and talk to each other about how you’re feeling. Because now is a time to be there for each other.

Ease back in slowly

Although it’s likely that lockdown measures around the world will ease gradually, it’s still important to ease yourself back into a normal routine slowly and gentle, if you feel like you need to. I’d say after months of lockdown, a lot of us are getting pretty used to spending every day at home!

Don’t try and do everything, all at once

And when things do start opening again and we ARE free to do as we please and go wherever we want, it might be useful to remind yourself that you don’t have to do everything at once. We’re all going to have a lot of travel plans when this is over but you DON’T have to go and do it all in the shortest space of time. It’s okay to heal first.

Continue to work on your self care daily

And finally, continue to use those self care practices that you built up over the time in lockdown on a daily basis. Self care works all the time – not just during a global pandemic! And I’m sure a lot of us have built up a lot of great self care practices and rituals during this time at home. So utilize what you’ve learnt, let go of what didn’t work and build up a stronger self care practice than ever!

How are you planning on looking after your mental health when all this is over? Are you worried about going back to normal fully? Let me know!

For more information on the I Am Band, you can find them on the following links: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | my shopify | shopee

102 Comments

  1. A great blog! I agree when you talked about taking things at your own pace when this lockdown ends, everyone is different! For example, you don’t have to go to the gym the first day that gyms are open.

  2. It definitely feels strange to slowly ease back into normal life after being so safely tucked away for so long.

  3. Yes I am truly a bit nervous to go back to normal life. It’s quite overwhelming! Though this post really helped me ease my mind. Also, thank you for reminding me to add self care into my everyday practice :).

  4. I think I’m definitely going to be easing myself back into normal life slowly! I also want to try and keep going with some of my new found hobbies too, so hopefully that will be something to work into a new life routine. I was definitely too busy before and didn’t really take time for myself so I’m hoping to change that.

    Kayleigh x
    https://hazelnutmusings.co.uk/

  5. This is going to be very important. I’m feeling overwhelmed already and spikes of fear for when this is all over and what the new world will be like!
    Well done you for sharing this!
    Rosie

  6. Lockdown has had a real impact on my mental health, and especially at the beginning, I was incredibly anxious. Since leaning really heavily on my spirituality and self care practices, I’ve been doing a LOT better. My mental health is in a much better place than I was expecting, but I am going to be really careful to make sure the rest of my loved ones are okay! It’s going to be a difficult and unusual time for all of us.

  7. I’m glad you’ve focused on this – lockdown hasn’t really been difficult for me at all (I’ve actually quite enjoyed it) so for that reason I think I’m going to find it hard to go back to normal as it’s highlighted everything about modern society that I don’t like. It’s certainly been an interesting experience. I have found myself more focused on my spiritual beliefs during lockdown, so the band that you’ve mentioned sounds like a really interesting product.

  8. I think easing back in slowly is the best way to approach everything when it comes to returning to normality. I’m unsure how ‘normal’ is going to feel for me. I was very stressed and anxious before lockdown when people were still working and socialising as normal but I’ve been a lot calmer since knowing everyone is safe indoors. These are great tips for anyone struggling and looking for someone/ something to help x

    Sophie

  9. I’m a very anxious person anyway, and as much as I want things to go back to normal and I’m so worried about it and the thought of having to go back to he office terrifies me (I am grateful to be able to work from home during this). Some really great tips here xx

  10. It’s going to be SO strange going back to normal life, whenever that eventually happens. Looking after our mental health at a time like this is definitely needed.

  11. A lot of things are going to be different for people all over the world after lockdown is over, it’s going to be hard to go back to a ‘norm’! Thank you for sharing this post, I’m sure it will help loads of people!

  12. Nice post!! Very useful in current times when we are dealing with so much. With places lifting up we need to bounce back slowly and try not to do everything at once. Rightly put. Also Self care is most important for our mental well being.

  13. I think I’m still stuck in the trying to deal with self care in lockdown at the moment! There are some really great and useful tips here, especially abut either seeking help or just talking to those around you because you are far from the only one going through it. Great post!

  14. Great tips, thank you! I like the idea of easing back in gradually. I went to my first small social function this weekend and I was actually pretty nervous on the way there! I’ve always been an introvert but I do really enjoy small social get-togethers with close friends. But, this time I just wasn’t sure I was ready for it. I feel like I’ve forgotten some of my social skills these last few months.

  15. Going back to normal is definitley going to be interesting. The adjustment will be different for everyone, but I can’t wait to get back to a “normal” life.

  16. Great article as usual. This one earned a share on MirrorAthlete’s “Ageless MirrorAthlete” group page. Thank you. Good health to you and your family.

  17. Well said! I definitely agree on easing back into things once everything goes back to normal. I feel like a lot of people (even myself tbh) have been going a little crazy thinking about what we’re gonna do when everything blows over. Thanks for sharing!

  18. It’s going to be super hard for me I think because it’s another three months before I go back to work and I know that for a fact. And that means I’ve been off work for 7 months–as in not in the office, I didn’t lose my job, we are working from home. But I was already a home body and I love working from home so it’s going to be quite the adjustment I think.

  19. My mental health is normally up and down. It took me ages to get used to lockdown and now I’m anxious about going back to normal. I’m not sure why. It’s nothing to do with the disease, I just feel weird about it.

    Helen

  20. Things have been reasonably normal for me since I’ve still been working. But I have started to notice people relaxing too quickly and I do worry about a second wave because the minority of people are getting complacent. I’m around the public every day so it a worrying time.

  21. This is a lovely post. Mental health is so incredibly important, it can be so easy to try and do everything at one but moderation is really important. Taking the time to look after yourself is so important x

  22. I think,as you said, leaning on your self-care daily is key. It’s a big adjustment, still with some risks, to start to go back to daily living. It’s important we take care of ourselves daily to make sure we stay mentally ready for it all

  23. Everyone is talking about what to do during the Covid but this post is about when it will be all over. How awesome! Thank you for giving us hope. That’s a great list btw!

  24. To be honest, it feels we are already back to ‘normal’ in the Netherlands. Of course there a few changes. You have to make reservations for literally everything. That is the thing I struggle with. I like to be spontaneous. But I know I am not the only one.

  25. Its tough these days, and depression is evident. Will use your tips to try and ride this tough wave. Cheers.
    Do read my blog if you get a moment.

  26. This is a very sweet and useful post! I have always struggled with mental health, and the whole COVID-19 things hasn’t helped. I get very scared of even going outside at the moment so I am not too interested in lockdown being over just yet. I love my I AM bracelets. I have 3 stackable ones and they are very sentimental. Great post 🙂

    Em x

  27. Talking to people about how you feel is so important. I’m a little worried about returning to normal because I’ve got into a routine where I feel productive, happy and healthy and I’m scared that the pressure of normal life will be too much. I’m just trying to take each day as it comes for the moment.

    http://www.thekellydianereport.co.uk

  28. These are so great and I love your focus on reaching out for support and speaking to people about how you’re feeling. I think it’s also really important to ease back in slowly and do things in small steps. It can be exciting when things feel a bit more ‘normal’ but we can get in over our head if we don’t keep an eye on how we’re feeling or take too much on at once!

  29. To be honest, I’m really anxious about lock down ending. I don’t like to leave the house normally, but have to for appointments and such. We are lucky that we have a garden. The thought of going out to, i.e. a shop, is terrifying me. However, your advice to take it slowly is good, and I’ll get through it. Thank you for your post. xxx

  30. Thanks for sharing this. it is going to be super weird going back to normal and I don’t think it actually will for a long time. This whole lockdown has definitely taught me to appreciate the small things.

    Sophia xo

  31. I’m genuinely a little worried about returning to normal. I’ve enjoyed the slower pace and having more time to do the things I want to do. I’ve still been working during this time as I work in a school but we’ve been on a rota. I’m back in full time in just under two weeks and I’m feeling quite nervous and anxious about it all.

    Lauren | https://www.laurenyloves.co.uk/

  32. I think it’s going to be just as much of an adjustment going back to normal as it was entering lockdown! I’m definitely going to do my best to ease myself back in slowly, so it’s not too overwhelming. That ‘I Am Band’ sounds fascinating, I’d be curious to know if it works – have you tried it yourself? x

  33. These are great tips! I need to be more open with how I am feeling cause I realized during Quarantine I have grown use to isolating myself ALOT.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d bloggers like this: