Stop Letting Lockdown Dictate You.

I want to start this post by highlighting the fact it is not going to be about ignoring the rules. PLEASE FOLLOW THEM. Instead I want to remind you that how you deal with it is your choice, don’t feel bad for not doing exercise, eating copious amounts of chocolate or lying in bed all day.

Lockdown does not mean you have to start a new hobby, decorate a room or get absolutely ripped.

I personally have pretty much done nothing out of the ordinary. I started running and then I stopped running. I started reading lots and now I am not reading lots. I started looking at the news and now I have stopped looking at the news.

All of that is okay!

The countless Facebook posts from strangers ripping people apart for simple little things are making me scared of actually being honest. That is not okay.

I know that of course there are extremes where people need to be called out on their actions. I think the latest in British Politics explains that. However, people should not feel isolated during self isolation. Surely when people are already being scared and examined for their cleanliness; what they touch, if they sneeze, how they breath etc. the last thing they need is to be hounded for a mistake? or made to feel like this is a probability?

I’ve written this post three times. Each time it has had a new title and a new body of text. I guess that resembles the inner workings of my brain at the moment, a mess.

Personally, I feel like during such an isolating period, people should be able to be themselves without questioning their behaviour. I guess that’s what happens when people have more time to spend on social media.

Anyway, I don’t want this to sound like you can waltz around and ignore the rules. That you can’t do. However, I want you to not feel bad for feeling confused or fed up. Everyone is going to feel that way at some point. I definitely have. What I’ve come to realise is that everyone deals with situations differently; some like to broadcast their stress on social media, some like to internalise their thoughts and feelings and then some like to drink copious amounts of wine.

I’m not saying any of the above are long term solutions but if that is how you cope then that is okay. Don’t feel bad. Enjoy the glass(es) of wine!

Just remind yourself that another person will deal with it differently to you.

I hope you are safe and well. I’d love to hear how you are and what you’ve been up to in isolation in the comments.