Self Isolation and Anxiety: Coping with our new ‘normal’.

We’re now 2 weeks into lockdown and dare I say it, with the help of Zoom, Facetime and Netflix we’re almost used to our new ‘normal’…

Or are we?

Whether you generally struggle with anxiety (which is something I have done for a few years) or you are a care-free, happy-go-lucky kind a gal (or guy), this bizarre period of uncertainty can cause a number of anxious thoughts and feelings and here’s the thing – that’s totally OK.

Whilst we can practice gratitude for the things we have – our health, our loved ones confined with us in isolation, a warm home to stay in… sometimes we might have days where we can’t see any positivity in the current situation and that’s completely OK too. I’ve addressed of a few things that I’ve found useful to remember during this strange and challenging time to try and cope with our new ‘normal’.

Social Media is so powerful and uplifting but remember that it can also be detrimental to your mental health during this time.

While I am endlessly grateful for social media during this time – the recipe inspiration, the home workouts, the positivity accounts I follow all telling me ‘we got this’ and the power of community and sharing - such as overwhelming support for the NHS staff – I am also aware that it seems like EVERYONE is smashing this whole self-isolation thing and, if anything, are just becoming better versions of themselves.

Remember, social media has always been, for most people, a ‘highlight reel’ – we’re all guilty of it in some way, shape or form. So while it looks like everyone is working out 17 times a day and somehow balancing work (or handling the sudden lack of) with family & friends catch-ups, an appropriate amount of alcohol, eating nutritiously and getting a solid 8-9 hours sleep every night – I promise you that they are not. 

YOU.DO.NOT.HAVE.TO.WORKOUT

Yep I said it. You are under zero obligation to do ANY exercise. While I’m not encouraging you to sit on the sofa for 16 hours all day every day - I am saying you do not have to sign-up to endless home workouts, bound out the door for a 5k every day or head out on your bike for an hour if you do not want to.

I would definitely recommend getting your daily hour of fresh-air, even if that means going for a walk to benefit both your mental and physical health. However, if your hours walk with your family, your pup, or on your own is all you can manage some days that is totally OK. While we are SO lucky to have so many online resources to keep us active and healthy during this period, it can feel quite overwhelming and all-consuming some days.

While keeping some sort of exercise routine during this time has helped me and my anxiety, it could be causing someone elses – making them believe they MUST be smashing their fitness game right now. Give yourself permission to work out when you feel like it and to rest when you don’t - and to not overthink whichever option you choose.

You do not need to do EVERYTHING, and nor will you be able to…

Suddenly we don’t have the hour commute each way to work every day, we don’t have literally anywhere else to be or that we can actually go (except the carnage of the supermarket) and therefore we have TONS of spare time on our hands, right? Wrong.

I’m sure we all have various aspirations during this time – whether it’s to learn a new skill, read more or maybe just generally spend more time focussing on ourselves, it is likely we will still struggle to find time to do so.

I’m not saying we should throw the towel in, stop exercising, binge watch our favourite series and drink rose from the bottle on the reg (however, the odd occasion – zero judgements). I am saying be OK with just doing one thing and commend yourself for mini-accomplishments too.

Maybe you FINALLY finished that book you have been reading since your holiday last Summer or maybe you managed to actually practice your skin-care routine each night before bed this week – these are all great achievements amongst this period of chaos and be proud of yourself for them! Rather than berating yourself that you haven’t become fluent in Spanish or mastered handstand push-ups yet.

Have more self-compassion & forgiveness.

In summary, if you are struggling to adjust to this new way of ‘normal’ then practice more self-compassion and forgiveness. Instead of negative self-talk when you’ve spent 85% of the day with your head in the fridge or didn’t get out on your daily walk because you were simply too tired or didn’t want to – forgive yourself and realise that things won’t be as easy or simple as they were before (not that life has ever been simple or easy remember!)

Remind yourself that it is also totally OK to not be OK with the current situation – you don’t have to think positively or be grateful for what you have 100% of the time. And, if you have a day where it’s all too much and you find yourself crying on the kitchen floor because you smashed your favourite mug (guilty) – that’s totally normal too. Because this situation isn’t ‘normal’ at all and there really is no secret to coping with this new ‘normal’ we’re all having to deal with.