Lockdown Vibe 2.0

It feels strange to be writing again after what feels like a very long time, however in all honesty I didn’t think I would be typing a follow up piece going into another lockdown. Nonetheless here we are, with a sequel.

I don’t know about you guys but I feel like I’m living through Groundhog Day, my motivation has gone out the window.

Winter lockdown will be tough for some people because it’s getting colder every day, the sun only shines for so long (if it even decides to make an appearance), leaving us feeling trapped and restless. Some of us will be wondering how to make the mundane a bit more special, especially with festivities such as Diwali and Christmas just round the corner.

On the bright side, my faith in humanity has been somewhat restored with Biden winning the election (wasn’t that a bit intense eh?) and Marcus Rashford being an all-time superhero. Besides that, I admire the people who are trying to be as optimistic as they can, particularly University students. I cannot imagine how frustrated and difficult it must be for them. If you are a uni student and somehow manage to stumble across this post, I would love to hear how you have been coping so far.

Prior to lockdown I achieved a few things which were fulfilling; I managed to pass my theory test, update my C.V, create a LinkedIn profile and even took a spontaneous day trip to London. I know all these things may seem really trivial but during this time any progression big or small is a win-win.

We have a Diwali celebration coming up in a few days, Saturday 14^th November to be precise. This festival is called the ‘Festival of Lights’ and it is normally celebrated with music, lights, fireworks and all the drinks and food you can think of. As a family, we haven’t really done anything for it the past few years, it has always just been a very chilled, low-key affair with my parents. However this time round I decided to kick it up a notch by purchasing colourful little Diwali candles, firework sparklers and a few decorations. I thought why not set the vibe and make it as memorable as possible. Pictures will be pending by the way!

In the meantime, for those who feel like they are struggling in day to day life with boredom and anxiety or just need a bit of support, I would like to share some tips that I learnt from the last lockdown. Here’s a few suggestions in general that may help you to take your mind off things.

1.  Don’t put any pressure on yourself to be productive or feel a certain way – I still get my lonely days and I do feel guilty for this, but getting through each day itself is an achievement.  

2. Take a break from the news and social media – Switch it off and switch off from it. It is absolutely fine to have a breather from the world, it can get really overwhelming and the last thing you want to do is stress about something you are not able to control.

3. Eat some good food – This can literally mean cooking anything tasty from oven cooked crinkled chips and chicken dippers to a classic and wholesome pasta bake.

4. Communicate with your loved ones – Sometimes we all just need a break from people and especially the people we live with, its natural (mum and dad if you are reading this I am sorry) but take some time to check in with your friends and family, it can really lift up your spirit.

5. Try and be compassionate – Everyone is feeling the weight right now so a little kindness and gesture goes a long way.

As you can see these are a few personal tips from me, majority of them have been mentioned in my previous blog piece, but I do hope they help. If you would like to know anything else or more, my box is always open.