Himmi's Plan to Combat the Corona Blues

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For many, the descent into English winter is not without its problems. With the cold setting in the mood plummets and aches return to long healed breaks in bones. This year, after eight extraordinary months of the worldwide COVID 19 pandemic, the gripes feel worse than ever, a phenomenon that has touched, if not wholly upended, the lives of most people on the planet. After a time of heightened vigilance over coughs and fevers, it is little wonder that the usual “back to school” cold takes on more disastrous proportions. Is this corona? It could well be.

The (artfully arranged) constituents

Having endured months of lifestyle restrictions many of us feel desolate at the prospect of another period in lockdown, and this time without the benefit of warm weather to at least look out on. Reserves are low but as the news daily warns us, the country is being tested again, potentially more severely than before given the confluence of other nasty viruses that circulate in winter. With so much doom and gloom, how on earth do we carry on?

Solutions appear to be manifold. Forced to spend more time indoors and thus, online, software tries to if not help, at least harness our attention. How many of us have had our habits analysed by computer algorithms, such that we now have tailored pop up ads telling us how we can improve in our isolation? A global crisis is not necessarily the time when one should expect revolutionary measures of self-improvement but with the pandemic showing no signs of fading away there is no longer an excuse to keep putting things off. Social restrictions and a prolonged preoccupation with coronavirus may be the new normal, hence the more pressing need to get accustomed to it.

Which is why I, scientifically trained as I am, shall be implementing a new, more experiential approach to try to “thrive and not just survive’ lockdown. In partnership with the wonderful team at the WorkWell Doctors, for the next six weeks I shall be working through their tips, as well as those listed on the NHS Live Well website, adopting a new weekly “feel good” measure to see whether my life truly improves as a result. At the end of each week you can read my review of each mood boosting strategy in this blog as well as keep abreast of my developments on social media.

The timetable is as follows:

  1. Exercise

  2. Mindfulness/meditation

  3. Sleep

  4. Socialising

  5. Learning something new

  6. Detox/healthy eating

So join me in my attempt to combat the winter blues. The days may be getting shorter, but together let’s try to make something of the bleak winter and rage against the dying of the light.

Resources:

  • The WorkWell Doctors are a team of GPs that concentrate on health and wellbeing, particularly for health professionals. For more information find them at https://theworkwelldoctors.wixsite.com or follow them on social media @theworkwelldoctors.

  • The NHS website offers lots of advice on coronavirus, illnesses and health strategies. I shall be working through ideas and tips from their '“Live Well” section found at https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/. Have a look and feel free to join me in adopting a weekly strategy. Do tweet/message/instagram me @himmikari of your attempts!