Love your mind

My previous blog states some tips on how we can survive Isolation in the next upcoming weeks, as promised here’s some more tips to keep you calm and happy!

Tip 6- Stay away from the media

As much as the news and media try to inform us about this situation and how best to deal with it, the media are good at increasing our panic and anxieties. Waking up and listening to the negative news will only lead your mind into worry….no one wants to start their day like this. The less media you interact with in the day, the less this crisis will be on your mind.

Tip 7- Exercise

Exercise is my biggest saviour in times of stress, it releases happy chemicals and makes you feel amazing. By resetting your breathing in exercise it helps to reduce anxious feelings and takes your mind off things for a while. If possible try to exercise outside, the fresh air is exactly what you need. There are plenty of circuit/HIIT workouts online as well as yoga sessions and meditation. Even if you just go for a walk once a day you’ll instantly feel better.

Tip 8- Self care

I don’t know about anyone else but I often find myself punishing myself, working out when I’m too tired, keeping myself busy when all I want to do is nothing. Now we have all this free time its the perfect time to start looking after yourself. Run yourself a bath, have a pamper day, eat junk food or watch Netflix all day. You finally have the time to treat yourself……no stresses!

Tip 9- Keep talking

We’re all in this weird and confusing period of time together and the best way to get through this is by talking. If you’re worried about the future or this isolation is making you feel low, please talk to someone. Drop me a DM on my Instagram @louise.oak for a chat!

So keep positive, keep busy, keep building your little empires and keep happy!

As a society we are currently facing an epidemic, it’s all anyone can talk about and the current situation is only going to get worse. It’s a scary time for anyone right now but what really worries me is those suffering with mental illness.

Anxiety is a disorder that can usually be controlled but in this time of uncertainty, panic will be at its worst.

For those with OCD, this is their worst case scenario. The world is in panic about germs and compulsions will be in overdrive.

In a situation like this we have to accept that we have no control however, what we can do is make the most of our time in this Isolation period that we might soon have to face…..So I have devised a few tips to keep you busy and happy over the next upcoming weeks!

Tip 1- Write a list (as soon as you’ve read this blog)

What things do you like doing indoors and what have you always wanted to do? Stick it on your wall and see what you fancy each day. This might be a pamper/movie day, a home workout (set some goals to get fit at home), reorganise your wardrobe (because who doesn’t love feeling organised?), do some yoga or meditation or even start an online course. Make these weeks useful for you and your self improvement!

Also make a list of the films/programmes you were waiting to binge on Netflix (You have all the time in the world now!)

Tip 2- Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice used to make you fully aware of your body, creating consciousness of you as a being. By making yourself fully aware of your body and how it feels, it helps you to take back control, especially when in a state of stress or panic. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that will explain and teach you about the practice. Go have a look and thank me later!

Tip 3- Make your house a home

It’s important than when spending time in the same four walls that its a place you really want to be. Make your bedroom a haven of peace. Light some candles, buy some fresh flowers, put up some fairy lights, frame your favourite quote and make sure it’s TIDY! By doing this you will find time there so much easier, making it as relaxing and peaceful as possible.

Tip 4- Ring/facetime people

Technology makes it so easy now that in Isolation its so easy to speak to people. In times like this we all need each other to take our minds off it so ring your friends and family. That friend you’ve been too busy for? Ring them. That friend you’ve not seen for years? Ring them. Catch up on all the times you’ve been too busy. Talking makes everything better!

Tip 5- Don’t think about the long run

Right now when everything is so uncertain and rapidly changing, it’s important that you don’t panic about the future (as hard as it is). We have to take each day as it comes and not worry about things we cannot predict. Worrying about how long this epidemic will be will only make things harder. We only have today to think about so lets make every new day a good one!

I hope you enjoyed these first 5 tips, I will be back with more in the next couple of days. For now, look after yourself, be positive, be happy and keep smiling!

Writing was there in my darkest times when it was only thing I felt I had control over. Sometimes we feel out of control, whether that’s because things are changing in ours lives, something’s changed that you didn’t expect to or maybe it’s just your anxieties. The only reason we ever worry, panic or stress is when we feel we’ve lost control and are no longing driving our car of life. But that is the key to calming your life…taking back control.

After years of letting panic and anxiety control my life I started to understand how to override it and take back my wheel.

Take this tip-

As soon as you begin to feel out of control whether that is through your mind or your body….

STOP

THINK

PROCESS

MOVE ON

Stop- what is it that is controlling you/ what’s happened today?

Think- Identify the “controller”

Process- can you control the controller?- if so do what needs to be done/ if not the controller needs to be removed

Move on- you can’t worry about what can’t be controlled

5 minutes is all it takes to take back control.

Our mind is so quick at processing things sometimes it misses our concious thoughts and controls us in others way through panic/stress symptoms/anxiety. As soon as you begin to feel different take a moment of reflection and refocus your mind…when you take back control, you can do great things.

I’m taking control this weekend. Who’s with me?