10 Ways To Shake
The Lockdown Blues

thursday, january 28, 2021

 
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🎶 “Tryna make sense of loose change. Got me a war in my mind” 🎶

Honestly, Sza makes a good point. Although I’ve been bumping “Good Days” nonstop because it’s a vibe, but it resonates with me so much. Especially in today’s climate. And no, I’m not just talking about the weather. I’m talking about this pandemic that we’re still in. This lockdown. It seems like the only consistency I’ve had in my life recently is staying at home, not interacting with anyone & just constantly feeling - alone.

Idk about you, but the seasonal depression has been REAL! Especially this week. Something about the lack of sunlight & just not interacting with friends, or being able to go out, or just LIVE like we once did this time last year. And with the gloaming reality of the year anniversary of the province being on lockdown, or when the pandemic got real REAL - It just makes everything seem so daunting. I’ve honestly had a really rough week dealing with my anxiety & some depression. But i’ve always really wanted to escape it & not be so in my head. So of course, I did what I do best - a blog post! I came up with a few things that I do when I’m trying to get out of my head & not be so anxious & also did some research on what truly helps people when they’re going through it & need some self-care.

I hope these suggestions help you or someone you know get to a better place mentally. If there’s one thing I’m realizing through creating today’s post, it’s that we’re less alone than we realize. We’re truly all going through it right now & just listening to someone or being there for them - can make a world of a difference.

 
 
 

1.) Try an At-Home-Workout!

 
 

We’re used to these by now - right? Though I believe Gym’s SHOULD be open so people can maintain their physical + mental health, the Gov thinks otherwise... Nonetheless, we adapt & we give these at-home-workouts a try! Working out in general is a great way to destress & refocus your energy. Though it’s a great way to gain muscle, lose some weight & build strength, it also holds the benefit of clearing your head & refocusing your thoughts. Especially during these times of uncertainty & no sign of gyms opening anytime soon, It’s a great way to just feel normal for an hour or two & try to set a routine. Put down a workout mat, listen to your favourite pump-up
tunes & get moving!

TIP: Don’t have weights? There’s a TON of tutorials online for working out at-home without any weights!

 
 
 

2.) Get Into An Activity To Keep You Busy

 
 

Ever heard of a positive distraction? It’s one of the better distractions you can go for these days. Though there may not be a lot of fun events, tasks for you to do right now, try getting into an activity you can do at home to keep you busy in a good way! Whether it be:

 

  • reading

  • completing a puzzle

  • baking
    or

  • even learning a new skill like coding or learning a new language!

There’s ton of activities you can do to keep you busy on the daily, or after an anxious day!

 

3.) Find A Project / Side Hustle

 
 

Had a project you’ve always wanted to accomplish, but never had the time? Well it’s time to SEIZE THE DAY! Whether it’s something you’ve always wanted to learn, but never had the time to really get into it, or even a business that you’ve always wanted to start, but didn’t know how. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to make a Youtube channel! NOW is a better time than ever to get into something new & give it your all! Especially with
all this time we have now to really focus on it. Why not get into something new!

 

4.) Rewatch Your Favourite TV Show / Film Franchise

 
 

Idk if we’re anything alike, but if we are, you LOVE rewatching old series of shows you were BIG fans of!
You probably did this in season 1 of lockdown too, but now is a great time to find another show to get into! Whether it’s an old time fav, or a show you’ve never watched before & heard great reviews of, it’s a great time to get into one you can commit to! I love rewatching old series I was a big fan of! I sometimes forget the plot, or big moments that happened & i just get excited all over again watching it! This is a big part of my routine rn!

TIP: This is great to do with old movie franchise or trilogies too! During October, I watched the Scream series all week & everyday it was something to look forward to. It was always nice watching them one after another to see any correlations I might have missed in the past!

 

5.) Listen To Your Fav Playlist / Podcast / Audiobook

 
 

Podcast were a big part of my daily commute. And during the first lockdown we were in, I was never in the mood to really listen to podcasts, or felt I was in the right headspace. Now, i’m trying to play catch up on days where I just want to hear someone else talk, or have some talking in the background of what i’m doing rather than music. Or even when I go on a walk, I’ll pop in a Podcast & feel like i’m walking with someone else. It feels good to get back into this again.

 

TIP: If you’re looking for a new playlist to pump, or something to get you through the seasonal depression this winter - look no further! My Winter Vibes 2021 Seasonal Playlist is the perfect mix to get you through the cold winter days ahead & get you through all the feels! It’s a chiller mix, with songs by A$AP Rocky, Brent Faiyaz, Snoh Aalegra, Summer Walker & a ton more artists too! Listen on Spotify or Apple Music!

 
 

6.) Have A Virtual Hangout With Uplifting Friends!

 
 

I’m not much of a talk on the phone person, but during these times of not seeing anyone face-to-face, online video chats with friends via Facetime, Skype or Zoom have been absolutely necessary in times like this. It’s almost felt like this is the best way to maintain a friendship as well. With distancing & not being able to hangout with friends like before, times can get really lonely. Call up a bestie & just enjoy each others virtual company!

TIP: Even just hanging out with someone virtually can be a big help! Instead of only facetiming, why not watch a movie together through apps like Netflix Party or Scener! These are great ways to get together & do something but still enjoy each others company!

 

7.) Look Into A Making Some Extra $$$ To Keep You Busy

 
 

With more people working from home these days & tons of people not working because their job site closed down, money can be tight. If you’re in this boat, or just looking to make some extra $ on the side, look into other ways you can make money while stationed at home. It’s not a bad idea to see if essential places that are open are hiring, or if you’d feel safer with a more independent work schedule, try something like UberEats, Dog walking, or even a local Babysitter!

 

8.) Get Outside For A Walk, Or Take The Long Way Home
From Running An Essential Errands

 
 

If you’re not implementing this one, I definitely recommend you do! As a content creator, I’m normally in my house, in my office, on my computer, anywhere between 10am to sometimes right to 1am. With this stay at home order, I really don’t have a need to go outside anymore, so I simply don’t. And most times, that can be straight depressing. The other day I went outside for a walk, & for the rest of the evening I felt like it uplifted my mood & just felt great to get outside again! I can’t really run right now because of the colder weather, but even just going out for a 20 minute walk can help improve your vibe!

 

9.) Your Thinking From “I’m Stuck Inside All Day” To
“I Can FINALLY Focus On Myself!”

 
 

Trust me - I know this one is easier said than done. With only staying indoors right now it’s hard to switch up your mindset & to even to be happy these days. But on days where I feel myself constantly being sad or doubting myself, I try to shift my mindset to “Okay WHAT can I control here. What can I change RIGHT NOW”.
And then I try my best to do exactly that. Focus on what I can control & let go of what I can’t.
TBH It doesn’t always work, but on the days it does - it’s really effective.

 

10.) Look Into Online Therapy Sources
If You Need Additional Help

 
 

This is one I’ve looked into a lot last year & looking to continue this year as well. Throughout this whole pandemic, & uncertain times. It can honestly be very depressing & lonely. Online therapy can help you work through the thoughts you’re feeling & talk them through with someone, rather than bottle them up yourself. That’s something that I’ve noticed in myself & something i’m working on changing. I’ve enjoy just having someone to talk with & with a lot of places closed, being able to just talk over the phone, video chat or even through a chat forum, has helped me not feel so lonely. There’s thousand of online therapy sources you can connect with & I’ll link some here as well!

 
 
 
 

And there you have it! Those are 10 suggestions on Ways To Shake The Lockdown Blues this year. No matter what you’re going through, just know you’re not alone. There’s many resources out there to help you & different outlets to get help as well. Below I’ve also linked a few different Men’s Health websites you can view if at anytime you need a helping hand.

With today being #BellLetsTalk it’s important to have the conversation, but it’s also important to keep
the conversation going. Whether you’re a person going through a mental health situation, or you notice signs
of someone close to you struggling with their mental health, it’s important to educate yourself on the best ways
to help someone struggling, as well as ways to help yourself. As speaking on Mental Health becomes more normalized, keep the conversation going by tweeting #BellLetsTalk & help spreading awareness
for Mental Health. Make your action count!

 
 
 

I hope you guys enjoyed today’s post. Remember, I always love hearing from you guys! Feel free to TWEET me, write me on Facebook, or shoot me a DM on Instagram! Let’s chat!

 
 
 
 

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