Lockdown-induced Stress

What is your Default in times of Stress?

My review of stress induced by Lockdown.

Stress affects us in different ways, from work stresses to juggling family life, together with managing a home and possibly a garden, having social activities, fitness activities, hobbies, the list goes on.  There was constantly so much going on, running from one thing to the next.

Then came along LOCKDOWN!

Lockdown brought with it a new type of stress where suddenly the world that we were familiar with had changed beyond recognition. Now we are being told we cannot leave our homes other than for food shopping and for one form of outdoor exercise a day. Unless you are a key worker or have to travel for your job (assuming there is still work for you to do), you must stay at home.

How does that make you feel?

On top of these feelings and emotions, the reason you are being told to stay at home is to stop the spread of a potentially life threatening virus. Are you someone who thinks it won’t happen to you, or someone who believes their life is at risk if they step outside the front door?

Whatever your situation or belief, it is very real and whatever your circumstances, your life will have changed dramatically in some form or another.

So how do you react to stress?

We are all feeling it in different ways and will be reacting in different ways as a consequence. We will probably have a default reaction which has been learnt from other times when we experienced stressful situations. This is what our brains have learnt worked before, so deduce it will work again and instinctively we are back dealing with stress in the same way.

I have heard of many people drinking more alcohol than usual. Others have turned to online shopping for the distraction. There will be many other traits, but for me, my default is what I lovingly term as ‘fuzz head’.

I make procrastination look like a full time worthy occupation. It is a fine art!

As I plundered into my daily erratic routine of doing absolutely nothing but being extremely busy, in about week two of lockdown, I started getting glimpses of my reality. One wonderful thing of being confined to your home, is you have a lot of time to reflect and observe yourself and habits, whether you like it or not.

Moving forward..

Working through the mountain of emails and social media posts about what to do during this time, I start to pick up snippets of hope, as I form my reality and awareness of how this change was affecting ME. At the same time as this is processing, I am aware of the silence and peace outside that is new.

I make the most of my one outside daily activity and start to see the outside world through different eyes. With less traffic on the roads, and less planes in the sky, there is definitely a new peace. Everything has slowed down quite suddenly and I realise I like it.

I need to make the most of this opportunity I conclude. I need to rest like I’ve never been able to before. I can clear my home, get some jobs done that I never normally have time for, but I feel so much better for when done.

I am being given a chance to truly connect to myself and true purpose. I have completely reviewed my business and now understand where I want it to go that suits me and what I want out of my future. I understand the Universe is giving me time out and I am very grateful.

I am healing, I am learning and I will come out of lockdown a lot stronger and more aware than when it began.

There is the saying that every cloud has a silver lining and I truly believe this. During adversity we find new aspects of ourselves and I believe there will be elements of lockdown we will actually miss. It’s not been easy at times and we still have a way to go but I have already achieved so much and will surely look on life differently when we get to venture out once more.  Try and view this unique time as an opportunity rather than a loss.  Step back and reassess, try and find your silver lining.

I hope you have a new bond with your business and a stress free approach to your everyday.  As I posted the other day; ‘Do what you love and love what you do’.

If you are considering a change of direction or thinking about adding a new skill to your repertoire you may be interested to know that I shall be running home healing courses for the curious and for those that wish to home heal as a profession.  Details will be on the website soon.