7 ways to beat the Christmas lockdown blues
The UK and most of the rest of the world are affectively in
Christmas lockdown and some of us are effectively living under virtual martial
law.
We know that mental health issues, depression and even suicides
are on the increase.
What can we do to overcome this? Here are seven quick tips
to help you through this period:
Firstly, put things into perspective.
Christmas is a religious holiday, one of many “holy” days in
the Christian calendar. Christmas can be celebrated quietly by attending a
church service or joining one of the thousands of online services.
Perhaps it’s time to get back to basics and forget about all
of the hype and overeating!
Secondly, get out and exercise.
Thank goodness we are still allowed to go out for a walk and
get some fresh air and sunlight. Yes, there is sunlight behind the clouds,
otherwise would be in darkness! Sunlight is very important to our physical and
mental health, which is why the government even recommended giving vitamin D
tablets to elderly people who have been caged in all summer.
Get back to nature. According to the mental health charity Mind.org, Just being around nature and
green spaces, has numerous physical and mental benefits and can literally lift
our spirits.
Mind advises that a simple walk in your local park, planting
flowers, gardening or being around animals can:
·
improve your mood
·
reduce feelings
of stress or anger
·
help you take time out and feel more
relaxed
·
improve your physical health
·
improve your confidence and self-esteem
·
help you be more active
·
help you make new connections
·
provide peer support.
You can also ask your local council about taking on an
allotment for a very small rental in order to grow your own fruit and
vegetables. If you can’t get to the gym, a simple 30 minute walk every day will
do wonders for your health.
We can also do many other exercises or physical activities at
home, which includes housework, decorating or clearing out some junks and
donating unwanted stuff to charity.
Thirdly, use this time to reflect and revisit your goals.
I’ve been listening to a podcast by Mark Victor Hansen, the
co-author of the chicken soup for the soul series which has sold 500 million
copies.
Mark has as many as 200 goals that he is working on at any
one time. They are also big audacious goals such as providing education and
scholarship for millions of children. At 72 he is still going strong and
writing more books and setting new goals. He reminds us that if you don’t have
a goal, you are not going anywhere in life.
Fourthly, read and listen to inspirational books and
audios.
As Mark Victor Hansen said, the ability to read sets us free
and opens our minds. For thousands of years, most people were not taught to
read and were kept in servitude. Reading and writing were preserved for leaders
and scribes. I know there are some great shows on TV and Netflix, but don’t
spend all your time taking in “passive” entertainment. You also need to
actively use your mind.
Fifth, keep learning and exercising your brain!
Your brain is like a muscle and needs exercise so do
something every day to learn or stretch your mind. The author and TV
personality, Giles Brandreth, tries to learn a new poem every day. He said that
people often say that as we get older our memories fade, but it’s not a memory
that’s fading but our power of recall. Research is now showing that you can
fend off the effects of Alzheimer’s by using your brain more actively. It seems
more people are getting dementia and Alzheimer’s in this TV age where we sit in
front of a screen and expect entertainment to be fed to us.
Sixth, look UP and look ahead!
Did you knowing up, instead of down, can literally change
our mood? You’ve heard the expression, “things are looking up” or you look a
bit “down” my friend.
Looking up at the sky makes you realise that we live in a
vast universe. Look up at the stars at night and the beauty of the
ever-changing clouds during the day. Look up at the sun rising in the morning
or setting at night.
Seventh, count your blessings.
Use this downtime to look up and reflect on the many
blessings you have in your life. If you feel down and depressed remember that
there are always people worse off than us. There are millions of people who
were going to sleep hungry or have no shelter. The fact that you can listen to
this podcast or watch it on Facebook and YouTube means you are better off than
millions of people.
The best way to stop feeling depressed is to do something for
somebody else. Volunteer or join organisations like Rotary, your local Foodbank
or the thousands of charities. You could even just call up a few people on the
phone to help them with loneliness.
In my experience, people who volunteer and help others are
happier and seldom depressed even when they face their own challenges in life.
Have a safe, happy Christmas and a successful 2021!
Shops closed? Looking for a last-minute
stocking filler?
There are more examples and practical
steps being happy and getting rich in my book, Yes, money can buy happiness, I cover the 3
R’s of Money Management, the Money B.E.L.I.E.F System and much more. Order now
on Amazon http://bit.ly/2MoneyBook or
contact me direct for a PDF version.
If you’d like further information on wealth mentoring and
coaching, how to survive the crisis and even quit the rat race, email me at Charles@CharlesKelly.net
or send me a message through Facebook or my Money Tips Daily community. See
more articles at www.moneytipsdaily.com
