How to Survive a (Semi-) Lockdown!

 

Hey my lovelies, happy Friday! Hope you are all well and have had a good week. This week I have been SUPER busy with my first Teaching Assistant job which has been an amazing experience but it is safe to say I am very grateful it is the weekend tomorrow! Due to being so busy this week I couldn't go ahead creating the content I had planned, so instead I asked on my instagram (@faithtrustandlotsofbooks - shameless plug) for quick blogpost ideas to which one of my lovely friends replied with a post including my top tips on surviving a lockdown.

Now like many, if not all, of you reading this post, the idea of another full-lockdown is incredibly daunting and concerning, but with Greater Manchester joining Liverpool in the government's 'Tier 3' restrictions and more cities being added to 'Tier 2', I thought it would be a good idea to provide you with some top tips if you are finding yourself struggling with the new restrictions. So here goes, my 5 top tips on surviving a semi-lockdown...

1. Keeping Busy - use this time to do the jobs you keep putting off or never have time to do. For example, does your wardrobe need a good old clear-out and organise? How long has it been since you washed your make-up brushes? Is it about time you organised those receipts you keep shoving in the bottom drawer? Not only is this a way of keeping yourself busy, but it is also a productive use of your time if you're feeling like the days are passing you by with 0 achievements. 

2. Starting a New Hobby - like using this time to do the jobs you never have time for, why don't you start a new hobby that you have always wanted to try. With the extra time you now have, which would usually be taken up with socialising and commuting to work, it's the perfect time to sink your teeth into a new opportunity. For example, after finishing my degree I started this blog! Something I have always wanted to do but have either been too busy or too scared. Likewise, one of my Uni friends used lockdown to teach herself how to create and apply acrylic nails, and has even created her own Instagram business and Etsy shop. If you fancy having your own, customised set of press-on nails without having to leave your home or pay salon price, then make sure to give her a follow on instagram (@alices_nail_wonderland) and check out her Etsy shop here.

3. At Home Workouts - it has been scientifically proven that exercise is good for the brain and your mental health, so if you find yourself feeling particularly anxious or agitated, getting a bit of exercise is an excellent way to release tension and let off a bit of steam. Obviously, if allowed, then a lovely autumnal walk to blow the cobwebs away is always a good call. There's also tonnes of of home workout videos on YouTube so you'll never run out of those. Also, yoga is a great way to calm the mind and is also a way of starting a new hobby. Like home workout videos, these are really easy to access online and on YouTube! 

4. Practice Self-Care - probably the most important point on this list. During times like these, it is SO SO SO important to practice self-care. This can come in so many different forms, and the key is finding something that works for you and calms your mind. This could be taking a nice hot bath with a bath bomb and candles, or just curling under a blanket with your favourite, nostalgic TV show in the background. It could even be as simple as waking up in the morning and making the effort to do your hair, make-up and putting on an outfit that makes you feel good and confident. It can all make a huge difference!

5. Keeping in Touch with Loved Ones - I can't be the only one who would be quite happy with the return of the weekly zoom quiz night! Yes we all want to see our friends in person, but we would much rather keep them safe. So, if that means joining a few zoom quizzes then that's fine with me. Make sure you're going out of your way to reach out to friends, whether that's dropping them a message, giving them a call or even a FaceTime, you never know how much of a difference this can make to someone's day and what battles they might be fighting. 

So there we go guys, a nice quick post for you all this week. I promise next week I'll be back with some more fun and exciting content (once I have five minutes to stop and breathe). There might even be some fashion content on it's way to you all ;). Hope you all have a fabulous week and I'll see you next Friday for another blog post. Lots of love xoxo