It’s the sequel no-one wanted.
Lockdown 2.
The latest instalment in a long-running saga for which no finale has yet been scripted.
The shutters are going up once again, restrictions tightened, and freedoms limited.
There can be no question, this has implications for us all.
COVID-19 – and all that it entails – is a crisis on an epic scale, and it’s understandable that, for many, the natural reaction to another enforced period in lockdown is so negative.
In penning this, we’re not downplaying legitimate angst, for times are tough, innumerable people across the UK are enduring great difficulties and their troubles are valid.
Yet in facing the obstacles that lie once more in our respective paths, our attitudes are important, and perspective should be considered carefully.
Both online and in the mainstream media, the negative is often emphasised, and this we understand, for it makes for a more compelling narrative.
But remove political and commercial facets from the equation for a moment and it’s obvious that to shine a constant light on the emotional distress that the coronavirus crisis continues to inflict is both destructive and unhealthy.
Yes, times are tough. Yes, great difficulties are being endured. Yes, troubles are valid.
Lockdown 2 is the sequel no-one wanted.
But it’s here nevertheless, and the manner in which we choose to screen it will have a major bearing on our mental health and the toll that it takes.
Social media tends to spawn a victim culture at such times, yet no matter how epic this crisis might be in scale – and it is unprecedented – this is not a fixed issue with a single unavoidable response.
Your mind and your actions are yours.
Where you choose to focus them in the coming days and weeks will be of the utmost importance.
You might have missed our earlier blog post, in which we underlined the positives to take from the previous lockdown period.
“People enjoying home life together. Going out for walks. Baking. Reading. Playing games. Being creative. Having conversations. Devoting more time and effort to their relationships.
“Factor in the space, the peace and the quiet, and the increased time spent together as families, and it is not quite as clear cut as some news reports might suggest.”
Life in lockdown can be, as we noted back in July, a two-sided coin. On which side that coin lands is not pre-determined.
In publishing this post, we seek to emphasise that, although times are tough and troubles valid, obstacles can be overcome, and that our attitude towards facing a return to restrictions is of the greatest significance.
The Government has published its own advice on the subject, noting ‘You might be bored, frustrated or lonely. You might also feel low, worried [or] anxious . . . [but] these are all common reactions to the difficult situation we face. Everyone reacts differently to events, and changes in the way we feel, think and behave vary between different people and over time. It’s important that you take care of your mind as well as your body. Most people will find strategies that work for them and the difficult feelings associated with the outbreak will pass.’
This is good advice, to which we give our endorsement.
Useful strategies here include talking about concerns, considering routines, limiting exposure to social media and negative news reports, setting goals, keeping minds active and engaging in enjoyable activities. You can find more here. Our advice is to use such resources to find a fresh perspective, to shape your approach and to use your attitude to help overcome the obstacles.
Because the natural reaction might be negative, but the finale can still be scripted with a positive pen.
Lockdown 2 is the sequel no-one wanted.
But please always remember, your mind and your actions are yours.
