As we continue to feel the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is more important than ever that we all look after our mental health. Especially as 87%’s data shows that anxiety, fatigue and isolation are of concern because of the various states of lockdown across the country.

We need sure-fire ways of staying positive over the coming weeks. Here are five tips from 87%’s Clinical Director, Dr Serra Pitts not on how to ‘survive’ lockdown, but how to ‘thrive’ in lockdown.

Accept

When things ‘go wrong’ or are not as we want them to be, it is easy for us to reject our reality.

In doing this, we often get caught up in thoughts like, “It shouldn’t be this way,” “It’s not fair,” or “I wish things were different.” This only serves to turn the pain that is an inevitable part of life into suffering and can keep us stuck in anxiety, frustration, bitterness and resentment.

By comparison, when we accept our reality wholeheartedly (and this doesn’t mean approving of everything or taking a passive stance), we are able to go with the flow and move forward despite the challenges that life brings. So, whatever, your situation in lockdown, accept it as if you had chosen it, and then take action if you can or need to.

You can practice acceptance by saying to yourself, “It is what it is,” and letting go of tension in your body, for example by unclenching and relaxing your jaw and opening up the palms of your hands.

“Whatever your situation, accept it as if you had chosen it.”

— Dr Serra Pitts

Take care of yourself

Self-care is so important, especially during lockdown and the added uncertainty, pressures and stresses this can bring. Making self-care a priority will help to keep you resilient and make you less vulnerable to both physical and mental health problems. Plus, when you take good care of yourself, it means you will be better equipped to take care of the other people in your life too!

Make sure you are eating a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Avoid having too much alcohol and caffeine. It’s tempting to turn to these things when we feel anxious or stressed, but too much can end up contributing to anxiety and low mood further down the line.

Be grateful for what you’ve got

In difficult times our minds are prone to focussing on the negatives. When we focus on negative thoughts this in turn fuels negative emotions which trigger even more negative thoughts and so on. So, take a good look around you and think about what you’ve got, what’s still standing, and what you are thankful for.

Everybody’s circumstances are different, and some will be more challenging than others, but whatever your situation, see if you can think of at least three things that you are grateful for. They don’t have to be big things. Often, it’s the little things like being thankful for a nice meal, getting some fresh air or a quick chat with a friend that make a big difference.

Contribute

There’s no doubt lockdown brings a host of challenges, but we can all play our part in both keeping ourselves and others safe and in helping each other out. Helping other people is a great way to thrive during lockdown – it can distract you from negative thoughts and feelings, give you a sense of purpose and achievement and help you to stay connected to others. You might even create your own ripple effect, as when we show kindness to others, this often inspires them to pass it on!

So why not make it your goal to make a positive difference to other people during lockdown? Call or message someone to see how they are, be patient with others you disagree with, send someone a card or a small gift, let people know when you’re thinking of them and be willing to talk when others are struggling. Be thoughtful. Be kind.

Practice #3forme

Lockdown might be tough, but it is also an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and to be proactive in taking care of our mental health and wellbeing. This gives us the chance to not only survive during lockdown, but thrive.  

87% recently launched #3forme – our campaign to empower everyone to take care of their mental wellbeing, by spending just 3 minutes a day increasing self-awareness and building healthy habits that reinforce positive mental health.

What better time could there be to start taking #3forme? Over the next four weeks, we invite you to spend just three minutes each day focussing on the tips for thriving during lockdown that we have outlined above. Each day, reflect on what you have done to accept, take care of yourself, be grateful and contribute. Write them down. Next, think of ways you will put these tips into practice tomorrow. Write them down.

Why not keep a #3forme journal so you can record your #3forme practice each day to help you build your mental fitness and thrive during lockdown?