With three weeks behind us and at least three more to go, our current state of self-isolation and social distancing is beginning to take a toll on many of us. We’re starting to realise how much we miss the things we’d previously taken for granted, like catching up with friends over coffee or taking the kids to the cinema.
Still, while we can bemoan what we’ve lost it’s perhaps in our better interests to focus on the potential good that can come of this temporary cessation of life as we know it.
Now that the pace of life has slowed for many of us and we generally have more time on our hands, it’s time to bring some positive changes to our lives. Here are 3 positive life changes that we can all make while we’re under lockdown that will make us happier, healthier people when life returns to its usual pace.
Attitude
We’re all going to have to take responsibility for our own mental health in this challenging time.
This is an international pandemic which has claimed the lives of over 16,000 people in the UK alone. It’s enough to challenge even the strongest resolve and cause us to lapse into depression and anxiety.
Nonetheless, by employing some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques, we can condition ourselves to challenge negative thoughts, curb our tendency to catastrophise and find a way to focus on the positive while accepting the negative aspects of life without feeling defeated by them.
Career
Were you happy with your job before the world went into lockdown? If so, congratulations! You’re one of a happy minority. If not, however, now is the perfect opportunity to make positive career changes.
It’s time to start learning new skills online, looking for ways to turn hobbies into viable careers through freelancing or self employment. It’s time to start thinking about how you could make your CV more eye catching and engaging or using a resume maker to craft the perfect eyecatching CV. Now is the perfect time to start taking the first steps towards a happier and more fulfilling career.
Dietary habits
As a nation our addiction to convenience food has proven ruinous to our health. Almost 29% of Brits are obese and a further 35.6% are overweight.
In an era where we’ve been working hard for long hours, the sheer… well… convenience of convenience food has had us over a barrel. It’s hard to resist the sugary, fatty and salty treats in the staffroom vending machine during a stressful day.
Now, however, we’re cut off from a world that’s filled with temptations. We have easy access to the kitchen all day and we have the opportunity to cook from scratch and enjoy more wholefoods.
We’re slowly learning that a healthy diet isn’t about cutting out fats or carbs. It’s about cutting out processed foods and enjoying more delicious and nutritious wholefoods. More than 1 in 5 of us is cooking more from scratch and learning to make their food budget last longer by making flavourful combinations of different ingredients. Maybe it’s time to join the revolution?
These are just three examples… what positive changes will you have made before the lockdown is lifted?
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