5 WAYS TO TACKLE STRESS AND AXIETY DURING LOCKDOWN

The Coronavirus Pandemic has had an impact on all of our lives one way or another. Making our anxiety and stress levels reach that all time high. Some of us, feeling worried as we are not sure what tomorrow’s news may bring, bored by staring at the same walls day in and day out. You may live alone and feel lonely, which can then turn into frustration as all you want to do is see and hug your loved ones. For most of us, these feelings will pass and we have for you a few easy little steps you can do in the comfort of your home and to help point you in the right direction.

Meditation: Finding time for you is always beneficial and meditation is a way where you can do this. Meditation can be practiced at any time of the day, we’re not saying to spend hours meditating but, ten minutes a day will keep those cobwebs at bay. A good time to practice is first thing in the morning or just before bedtime. Even If you need a few minutes to yourself during the day, doing a short meditation on your lunch break will give you that time out you need. There are great meditation apps for mindfulness such as Calm and Headspace. YouTube is a great way to find short meditation videos too.

(Photo credit: Lesly Juarez)

Stay connected with friends and family: We have all been using Zoom more than ever this past year. Whether that being holding evening quizzes, meetings, celebrating birthdays and baby showers. We all need to feel connected, so keep in touch with friends and family and try reconnecting with old friends. Doing this more times than not should make you feel a little better as you can catch up and have a good laugh, which is so needed.

Physical health: Our physical fitness has a major impact on how we feel, so looking after our bodies the best way we can is important. It’s so easy to fall into unhealthy patterns in lockdown but you have to just have the mindset to keep your physical fitness going. Try to exercise regularly, this can be as easy as an online ten-minute Yoga and Pilates class, a high intensity half hour cardio session, hitting the pavement for a jog, a daily walk or bike ride helps with fitness and also clears your mind. Eating healthily and preparing a well-balanced, nutritious meal always makes you feel great. As well as drinking lots of water.

(Photo credit: Greg Rosenke)

Make time for yourself: This can include anything, think of things that you really enjoy and that relaxes you. Listening and dancing around to your favourite music always helps, as well as releasing those feel good endorphins. Doing this for as long as you want whilst dancing around like no one is watching is the best thing ever! Reading books can make your mind wonder to a different place. A great book is a good feel factor and whilst doing this why not run a hot bath and enjoy your book whilst soaking your body at the same time. Pamper yourself. This can be facials, giving yourself a manicure and pedicure, masks and hair masks. Looking after you is the way forward. Lastly try out that new recipe you have seen. Cooking a great meal or even baking for yourself and for those you live with is a good way to get those culinary skills on point as well as having a full stomach too!

(Photo credit: Sam Loyd)

Organising your space: They say an organised space is an organised mind, the more clutter you can see around you, the more easily you’ll find yourself distracted. Start by getting rid of the things you don’t need. There is a variety of different online ecommerce websites where you can sell clothes, electrical goods and many more. You may fancy a little revamp, why not give a room in your home a whole new makeover. Doing this will make you feel as though you have got something done, whilst feeling great about yourself at the same time.

Shelley & Michelle xx

OUR TOP SIX SERIES PICKS TO WATCH DURING LOCKDOWN

1: OZARK

If you want an all-week binge session then Netflix’s drama Ozark is a series not to be missed. This show debuted in 2017 and we completely missed it. But since the lockdown and with so much time on our hands we gave into much of the fanfare. The gripping story is about mob accountant Marty Byrd (Jason Bateman) who relocates his family to Missouri after becoming entangled in a drug cartel’s money-laundering scheme. We don’t want to give too much away but the plot thickens once you delve into season two and three. So if you’re an avid crime series fanatic this one is certainly for you.

2: JESSICA JONES

This is yet another series we were late to the party with… One of Marvel’s darker characters Jessica Jones takes you through her journey as a super-powered woman who is so strong she can lift anything from cars, to ripping bathroom sinks from walls with her bare hands. Jessica Jones is a former superhero who then opens her own detective agency in New York City. As a private investigator she finds herself in various situations dealing with cases involving people with remarkable abilities. This is another Netflix show that will keep you entertained and watching throughout the day until night. The series began in 2015 and came to its jaw dropping conclusion in the summer of 2019.

3: QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

We are so versatile with our interests in general that whilst writing this we’ve realised during lockdown we have been hooked on action / crime dramas, with one of them being Queen of the South. The drama tells the story of Teresa Mendoza, who is forced to run and seek refuge in America after her drug-dealing boyfriend is murdered in Mexico. She teams up with an unlikely figure from her past to bring down the leader of the drug trafficking ring that has her on the run. This is yet another binge worthy drama that is filled with lots of surprises along the way.

4: BLOOD

Blood is a thriller series based in rural Ireland that tells the story of a woman returning home to Dublin after the sudden death of her mother. She grows suspicious of her father and is convinced he had something to do with her mother’s death. Blood will keep you on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds and brings more mind-blowing storylines throughout. The series is currently in its second series and you can catch the psychological thriller on Channel 5 and Virgin Media. You can watch Channel 5 outside the UK and any other country such as the US, Australia, France and Canada.

5: GANGS OF LONDON

Gangs of London’ is the perfect addictive drama to get you through lockdown, but we must warn you now be prepared, if you are squeamish this show is not for you. Gangs of London shows the city being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of the international gangs that control it and the sudden power vacuum that’s created when the head of London’s most powerful crime family is assassinated. It is said that some of the characters are based on real life criminals. Right now there is just one season of Gangs of London and the drama has received raving reviews, so we are hoping the team get back together for a second series once the pandemic is over. Gangs of London aired every Thursday at 9pm on Sky Atlantic, you can binge watch all nine episodes which are available to stream on NOW TV.

6. SAVE ME

Save Me is an emotional and powerful British drama. Starring Lennie James who fathered a daughter thirteen years ago and she mysteriously disappears. He then sets on a tireless quest to find his missing daughter going to any length to uncover the truth. Save Me is yet another series that will keep you glued to the screen whilst Nelly takes you on his dark and haunting journey. There are two seasons to this story but we advise that you watch from the beginning to end as this is a story you do not want to miss out on. Save Me series one and two is available on NOW TV.

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Shelley & Michelle xx