Five Tips for Dealing With the New Lockdown Rules

Boris Johnson announced that lockdown restrictions are being relaxed from the 4th July. With restaurants, bars and other facilities set to open, the lockdown dynamic is going to change. Here are five tips to deal with the changes that are to come: 

1. Only do what you feel comfortable doing. If people are asking you to do things that you don’t feel comfortable with, it’s completely fine to say no. We’ve been living in lockdown for many months now and slowly adapting back to our normal lifestyles is a daunting prospect. If these people are your friends, they should respect your decision and support you as much as they can. Just because we are able to see each other in person doesn’t mean that other forms of communication will disappear. You can still ‘FaceTime’ your friends and talk to them over social media as much as you like.
2. Put yourself first. Your mental health should come first and it’s important to do whatever makes you happy. As people are still suffering the consequences of the virus, it can be easy to feel guilty for starting to do normal things again. However, as long as you know that you’re following the rules, you should do whatever makes you happy.
3. Remember that just because the restrictions are easing it does not mean the virus is gone. Many people have chosen to ignore social distancing rules. Just because you see others doing it, it doesn’t mean that it’s okay. Nearly 500,000 people have lost their lives to this virus globally and it will continue to increase if people see the 4th July as the end of lockdown. One of the only reasons why lockdown is being eased is to help resurrect the economy. Life won’t be the same for a long time to come and it’s important to remember that.
4. Don’t be afraid to get help if you need it. If lockdown has had a negative impact on your mental health, don’t be afraid to seek help. As I’ve said, your mental health is a priority. Whether this is seeking help from your friends, family or a GP, someone will be there to support you every step of the way. There will be other people who feel the exact same and it’s important to find comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. The sooner you seek help, the quicker the problem can be resolved.
5. Take each day as it comes. As much as we try, it’s impossible to make everyday a good day. It’s important that you don’t blame yourself for having a bad day and acknowledge that we are living through such strange and unprecedented times. If you feel the need to cancel plans at the last minute because they’re making you feel anxious, that’s okay. Speak to those around you about how you feel. Getting things off of your chest is guaranteed to make you feel better than you did before.

Katie Wheatley

Featured image courtesy of Alexandre Chambon on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.