How I Thrived During Lockdown
On March 23rd, the UK government declared a state of lockdown in response to COVID-19. Most of us were only allowed to go outside for essentials, had one form of exercise per day, and in-person meet-ups were not allowed. For vulnerable members of the public, the rules were even stricter.
My initial reaction, as an introvert, was glee: I was being told that I had to stay inside and work from home, which meant that I was saving money on transport, lunch, and events in the city centre. Plus, I could have more leisure time, something my 2-hour weekday commute did not easily allow. I also rarely get lonely, and I live with my partner anyway so I didn’t see the issue!
This excitement lasted two weeks.
In early April, I wrote a poem that included the lines: ‘Another day where sadness presses on the chest / As eyes carve out rivers on cheeks / f***ing done with the same routine’. I had to stay in the same flat as someone I was not used to seeing 24-7, my workplace offered only a small change of scene and, even though I was saving money, I missed going to events and meeting new people.
That’s when I realised that something had to change; I was missing vital forms of stimulation so I had to seek out new forms of excitement.
I started by substituting what I would have done before lockdown with similar things:
I used to walk about 4 miles for work. Now? I walk (and run) as often as I can.
I enjoyed going to the theatre, spoken word and miscellaneous club events. Now? I’ve found multiple events online that cater to all three, and more!
I missed hanging out with my friends. Now? I arrange more video calls, plan online quizzes, and game online with them. Of course, since we can now meet with friends, I’ve tried to do so as regularly as possible.
Lockdown was a lot harder for me towards the start but now, with some restrictions lifted, I don’t need to try as hard to keep myself entertained. However, if I hadn’t changed my routine, I’d definitely feel a lot worse than I do now. Something which urged the most change in me was having cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) from April until June.
As chance would have it, I was in the middle of CBT in March, so they just moved them to phone sessions soon after. My therapist stressed the importance of routine, lockdown or not, and urged me to start a weekly activity diary/planner. This consisted of writing out the days of the week and adding various activities under each one, making sure to incorporate a mix of fun and chore-like things.
I didn’t think that I liked routines, they tend to make me feel restricted, but this helped me a lot more than I thought. Not only do I rarely run out of things to do, but I can see how much I’ve done each day and feel good about my achievements. I think it helps that I allow myself some flexibility and variety, so rather than telling myself I should watch a certain TV series for half an hour, I urge myself to either watch, listen to, or play something I enjoy.
Discovering gripping series’ during lockdown also helped me a lot. Some notable mentions are Netflix’s Dead To Me, Dear White People, and BBC’s I May Destroy You. I’m currently in the middle of BBC’s Noughts & Crosses which imagines a society where everything is influenced by black (‘cross’) culture, with white (‘nought’) people facing discrimination.
Whilst this was and still is fun, sitting in front of the TV was commonplace for me, so it would not have eased my boredom long term. Eventually, I started getting out more and decided to start running.
The last time I ran was in school (seventeen years ago), and I was fast and determined when I tried. However, when PE lessons stopped, I had no interest in turning it to a hobby. Luckily, I discovered an interesting way to run – Couch to 5K. This app caters to people who want to ease themselves into running by gradually increasing the distance run over 9 weeks. You have your pick of five trainers/coaches who step in during the workout with advice and words of encouragement, which helps me more than running in silence. I’m on my final week now, and I plan to carry on running when I’m finished.
Finally, I was really proud of a project I started a few months ago: a music review blog. I hadn’t done anything like that in years so I felt a bit out of my depth, still do, but I really enjoy researching, planning the layout, sorting out the pictures, and just seeing what I’ve built evolve with each post. It helped me to know that it was all on my terms, there were no deadlines or expectations besides the ones I set myself.
My motivation is normally horrendous, I would put simple things off for months or years, but seeing what I’m capable of when I put my mind to it has surprised and inspired me. It’s what encouraged me to get in touch with this magazine, now here I am!
When all is said and done, there is no method that will work for everyone, and you don’t need to become this supreme version of yourself in order to thrive; the most important thing is that you’re kind to yourself, whether that’s by making sure you’re observing lockdown rules, listening to music to wind down or being there for friends and family.
What kinds of things did you do, pre-lockdown that you can’t do now? If you’re struggling to find something to replace your hobbies and past times, try finding something new or indulge more in things you enjoy that you can do.
Written by Shanade McConney
My name is Shanade and I’ve been passionate about writing for as long as I can remember. I've been known to play Fortnite for an obscene amount of time, I love putting a good outfit together, and I process life insurance applications near Bristol, where I’ve been based for 2 years. I’m trying to live my best life, whatever that might look like, and hope I never lose sight of the things that bring me joy.