28 Ways To Stay Sane During Lockdown - Live Full Retire Early

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I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m only 10 days into lockdown but it feels like 10 weeks! By day 3 I was starting to get cabin fever and feel immensely trapped and a prisoner in my own home. I can’t believe terms like quarantine, self isolation and social distancing are everyday terms we are using. If feels like how I imaged it to be like when my nan used to tell me stories about living during war time.

I have felt so low and depressed, not really taking care of myself. I’ve been drinking too much caffeine to help me ‘feel better’ and comfort eating too many penguin chocolate bars.

So, once I became aware of my feelings, I decided to create a list of all the things I can do during lockdown to ensure I stay sane… I have at least another 11 days to go. I’m fully expecting lockdown to continue for another 2-3 months if I’m honest.

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Meditate, Yoga or Laughter Yoga

Laughter yoga will no doubt increase your happiness levels and 10-20 minutes of meditation a day will quieten your mind and create stillness within … something we all need no matter what is going on in the world. Check out Yoga with Adriene for over 600 different yoga videos.

Do Some Colouring

Adult Colouring books is a meditation like activity. It quietens your mind and forces you to be present. I don’t know about you but I a bit of a stationery addict so I just love these crayons

Go For A 45-60 Minute Walk (or an other form of exercise)

Joe Wicks has done countless at HiiT home workouts on YouTube.

Create or Review Your Budget

Creating a plan for your money will help you feel more positive and empowered. It is only when we feel like our money management is out of our control, when we are free stressed about money.

Click Here To Download my Free Annual Budget Planner

Do Some Gardening

There are going to be so many beautiful gardens when lockdown is over, I have spent hours in the garden most days and it’s great exercise. I am burning so many calories from gardening alone. I’m shocked.

Start Your Own Podcast

Pick a subject you’re obsessed with give podcasting a go …Here is a free start up guide.

Start A Blog

If you don’t fancy starting a Podcast (even if you do), then blogging is a great way to express yourself and get your message out to the world. Here is a FREE 7 Step Course to Starting Your Blog

Do Some DIY

Check out Serena from thriftdiving.com. She teaches you how to create a beautiful home with DIY thrifty ways. She also has a YouTube channel if your more of a visual learner.

Listen To A Podcast

My current favourite podcast is “Sh**ged Married Annoyed” by Chris and Rosie Ramsey. This is an hour of non-stop laughs. But please note, their podcast isn’t for the faint hearted.

Play Board or Card Games.

My sister in law is currently staying with us and almost every night after tea we go into the conservatory, put whatever music my boyfriend wants on and we spend hours playing dominoes, uno and dobble. We love it.

Clean Your House From Top To Bottom

Give your house a Spring clean or do some speed cleaning.

Read A Book

Use this opportunity to read that pile of books you have on your bookshelf that you just haven’t got around to reading.

Do A Jigsaw

I just love spending an afternoon with a cup of tea and doing a jigsaw. Nope, I’m not an 80 year old woman, but I do appreciate simple pleasures in my old age. I find jigsaws so therapeutic.

Decorate Your House

This is my biggest regret. I wish I’d bought tins of paint to decorate my house during lockdown. It would’ve been the perfect opportunity to spruce up the house.

Do A Suduko or Wordsearch

Another therapeutic activity whilst also keeping your mind active.

Have A Virtual Party or Quiz With Your Friends And Family

These make me all warm and fuzzy inside. My best friends’ family are doing daily virtual quizzes. Each member gets to host the quiz and the winning family wins a prize.

Do A Hair Mask

Now all non essential businesses are closed down, any hair appointments are now put on hold. But that doesn’t mean that your hair maintenance has to fall at the waist side. Why not do a coconut oil hair treatment and give your hair a boost. I’ve noticed that I wasn’t 100% taking care of myself, so I gave myself a little pamper afternoon, I did the coconut oil deep conditioning treatment and also did one one on my feet, they have been so neglected recently.

Declutter Your House/Garage/Shed

Now is the perfect time to go through all the stuff you no longer need or want, I have spent a good couple of days decluttering and listing them on Facebook marketplace and eBay. Check out Marie Kondo’s book for tips and inspiration.

Journal Your Feelings And Experiences.

As you know from previous blog posts, I am a huge fan of journaling. It has so many amazing benefits. Journaling is a great way to release any stress and anxiety that you may be experiencing during this crazy time. Journaling is a proven stress reliever. This is the journal I am currently using. It is beautiful and such good quality. I find writing in this a joy. #journaladdict

Watch YouTube

I have been binge watching all my favourite YouTubers. I find it oddly comforting observing how other people are living their lives during lockdown.

Have A Shower

Any form of self care during stressful times can get neglected. Simply taking a simple shower and washing the day off you, does wonders for your mind, body and spirit.

Re-evaluate Your Life and Set Goals.

This sounds a bit of a boring one compared to some of my other suggestions but usually we are so busy in our day to day lives, we don’t have time to stop and reevaluate where we are and what we have achieved. I’m choosing to see what is happening, like the world is hitting the reset button. I don’t believe once all this is over that we will go back to the way it was. How can we? Are you happy with what you have achieved? What would you like to achieve in the next 6-12 months?

Have “Quality Time” With Your Partner.

Forget Netflix and Chill now it’s Quarantine and Chill.
(remember to practice safe sex)

Wash Your Car (as well as your hands)

You may not be using your car as much as you would travelling to and from work but washing your car is a great activity to kill a couple of hours of your day.

Play Computer Games

My boyfriend and I are currently obsessed with the Sega Mega Drive Classics on the Xbox One. The graphics and the sounds remind me of simple times when I was a child. I’m still the undefeated champion of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Facetime With Friends And Family

Just because we can’t visit our friends and family doesn’t mean we can’t still see them and maintain the relationships. I Facetime my brother (and his family) and my parents almost everyday.

Sort Out Old Photo Albums

This is something I have done during lockdown. I had several pictures developed around Christmas time but never got around to putting them in frames. Now I have beautiful pictures of my family dotted around the house that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Watch Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+

I can guarantee that subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ have spiked during lockdown. Especially for those who have children.

(by clicking on the Amazon Prime link in this post you will receive 30 days free trial, unlike the 7 day trial advertised on the Amazon website)

5 Extra Tips To Protect Your Mental Health During Lockdown

Turn off your phone for at least an hour a day
Turn off the news
Look for positive news stories
Look for positive corona recovery stories
Follow me on Instagram @livefullandretireearly for a daily sprinkle of positivity
Follow me on Facebook where I share more positive stories and articles about corona and not corona virus related.

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