Something new for lockdown

As we limp our way through week five of lockdown, the good news is that having already navigated our way through several lockdowns, we have lots of collective insight to help us get through.

Whatever our personal situation, mental health experts agree that we’re likely to experience low moments at times. Routines are a key tool at our disposal – even the simplest routine adds structure, helping to provide a sense of control and to improve our focus. Routines can save us from wasting energy dithering over small decisions or from sliding into lethargy and destabilising habits. Setting achievable tasks, exercise, maintaining healthy eating and sleeping habits are all ways to keep the wheels from falling off.

As lockdown stretches out, the sameness of each day can contribute to groundhog-day feelings of boredom and brain fog.

Clinical psychologist Karen Nimmo, speaking recently on Radio New Zealand, said that routine can be a really helpful antidote to anxiety, but it can also drive us crazy when there’s not much in between.

Turns out it helps to create a little bit of novelty, and to mix things up whenever you can. It’s about knowing yourself – your triggers, and what might set you off. For the times you find yourself not in a good place, Nimmo suggests adding a bit of novelty to reduce boredom and lower stress levels.

Here are a few ideas to try:

• Pick different clothes Try a different outfit every day and see if you can’t wear everything in your wardrobe at least once in lockdown. Challenge teens in your bubble to do the same.
• Seek new thoughts
  Frederic Pau, Health and Safety Advisor says;
  “Something I read this week sentence struck me, although it is old research, is from John Travis’ Illness-Wellness Continuum: “It is less important where a person is on the continuum than the direction they are facing.””
• Put pen to paper
  Take a moment to think about something you enjoy or have enjoyed in the past. Write down some of your reflections or interesting past experiences relating to that activity. Don’t worry about your writing style, enjoy losing yourself in happy memories and the flow of thoughts and recollections.  Check out this example that Susan Easy wrote as she reflected on why she loves cycling.
• Nurture taha wairua
  Make contemplative walks in nature, take a photo everyday for a week of something you are grateful for. Listen to a piece of music that makes you feel wonder. Practice the things that build te whare tapa whā. See some ideas here.
• Explore your neighbourhood
  Have you explored your 5km exercise zone? Librarian Susan Eady says “I’ve been biking the quiet streets and enjoyed the novelty of being able to go on the road in places I’d not attempt normally, like Queen Street. The roads have been quieter than cycleways which are packed with people out getting fresh air and exercise.”
• Try a new activity
  Never tried yoga? Now’s the perfect time to be a wobbly beginner in the privacy of home. Simply tune into one of Dani Affleck’s free – and gentle – lockdown classes. See the Nest calendar for times and Unitec Sports Centre Group Fitness for more.
• Play a new game
  Operations Manager Hung Ngo also organises staff badminton games. With games postponed for now, last week, he shared this fun online badminton game.