Mini Series: Boost Your Wellbeing During Lockdown

Coronavirus lockdown anxiety and boredom is all too real. It's rocked our daily routines and social lives, leaving even the most 'zen' personalities unsettled and lost. To adapt to the current situation, I’ve decided we are not self-isolating; We haven’t lost our freedom, we are simply self-retreating. Maintaining our health, both physically and mentally, has never been more critical than during these unprecedented times. And even though the current global situation is out of our control, we can always choose how we react. Right now is an ideal opportunity for us to do some internal work, retreat and learn to treasure it: hibernate, disconnect and dive into our inner world. There are still lots of things you can do to protect your health and wellbeing — aside from social distancing and washing your hands with soap. Today we have put together a list of ideas and tips to help boost your wellbeing during the pandemic.

EATING WELL 

Image Credit (left to right) - Well and Full, Paleo Gluten Free 

A healthy diet can be your first line of defence when it comes to having a strong immune system. But eating as healthily as possible is important not only for our physical health but our psychological well-being too. A diverse diet that includes plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits ensures we get all the nutrients our body needs; especially when the produce is organically grown in our gardens. Eating healthy has shown to boost our energy levels, reduce our risk of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, as well as depression and anxiety. Wholesome, homemade food that tastes good (less meat, less dairy, less sugar) is what we should be aiming for now. Cooking has been one of the most grounding and uplifting pursuits of lockdown for us - we've never been more grateful for freshness and greenness.

MEDITATE

Image Credit (left to right) - Pinterest, New Scientist

Breathe! Staying at home in isolation seems to prevent us from feeling connected- not just with each other but also with our own selves. The days and weeks trail into a blur, we forget to check in with ourselves and the less we move the less we connect with our breath. Through prayer, meditation and/or introspection. Meditation allows us to be completely present at the moment and can be enormously rejuvenating for mind, body and soul during lockdown.

Many cultures experience the benefits of this practice from Asia to the Middle East to Europe and the Americas. It is believed that through the practice of various meditation methods, we can find stillness of thought, compassion and acceptance. Meditation, however, is certainly not a one size fits all thing! There are hundreds if not thousands of techniques and practices to explore, some you may enjoy and find useful and some which may be less suitable to your needs. Consider exploring wholesome deep breathing techniques that relieve that niggling anxious and stressful feeling. This can help in calming our heart rates, reducing our blood pressure and creating an overall sense of wellbeing. Nowadays, we talk more, and we hear less. So take this opportunity to find a guided meditation and breathing exercise online and hear the silence around you for at least 15 minutes per day. About Kids Health, have a great beginners 5 minute guided meditation - take a look below. 

SOCIALISE IN NEW WAYS

Image Credit - Pinterest

CONNECT! Now more than ever, we need our friends. Evidence shows that social connectedness is as essential for our health like diet, movement and sleep. When we connect with others, we release the feel-good hormones of dopamine and oxytocin, the love hormones that help us soothe and heal.

While social distancing is necessary during this period, social interactions are also; and you don’t have to be face-to-face for it to be meaningful. Even though we are physically distant from each other, we can still connect virtually and through reminiscence. Why not recreate the usual Friday night drink or rearrange that longed-for book club through video calls — you could even organise a virtual dinner via apps like Zoom, Houseparty or good old Google Hangouts. Try to make a video call instead of a phone call, send a voice note rather than a text – anything that deepens the communication with the people you are missing. Reconnection is important too right? Take pictures of old snaps or screenshot them and send them to the person/people in them and remember to be kind to yourself and others, we are all worth the time!

INDULGE IN SOME HEALTHY NOSTALGIA

Image Credit (left to right) - Pinterest

There is no word for pandemic-induced nostalgia – the missing for things that hardly seemed to matter only a few weeks ago. The word pandemic comes along with many alarming connotations- panic? Medic? Pandamonium? But since the start of social-distancing measures; those feelings of alienation induced even by the word itself may have become increasingly overwhelming. When times are tough, the desire to escape to a place of perceived peace becomes ever harder to deny and ever more desirable. Nostalgia is a powerful tool, and amid the coronavirus epidemic, it can keep distanced people distracted and more positive if channelled wisely... You probably have a few special snaps on your phone you've always made a mental note to print out. Well, now is the time to do it. Then string them up, put them in frames, or create a wall collage of people and places you love the most. Just remember we will most definitely have all the things we are missing again, it’s just a matter of sitting it out and waiting. And whoever said patience wasn’t a virtue!?

While indulging in nostalgia can create a sense of comfort right now. It’s also important to remember that living in the moment is imperative for a healthy state of mind. Believe it or not, research suggests that we spend 40% of our time thinking about the past and 40% projecting our worries into the future, which means we are only living in the present 20% of the time. The good news is developing the ability to use mindfulness will result in a calmer healthier psychological-emotional state; achieved through the practice of nostalgic meditation.

SECTION OFF A NOOK FOR YOU 

Image Credit (left to right) - Burlap and Blue, Pinterest

Many of us share our home with others and it can feel as if we’re all living on top of each other - if we’re honest with ourselves - it can start to feel a little cagey. Take this opportunity to update your space into something less house and more home. You can create a little corner for yourself to escape and curl up in. You don't need much, just a comfy chair, some pillows, and maybe a solid surface to rest drinks and snacks. The nook can be your own little area to rest when things get too much or a place of retreat to dive into another world with a good book. 

Getting your home up to scratch doesn't mean spending a lot of money to make it photo-worthy - If you want to refresh a room in your house without paying too much, why not rearrange the furniture in the areas you might spend a lot of time together (especially if you have kids), this will maximise your floor space so you don't all feel cramped. It will also give you room for a bright and colourful Persian or Oriental Rug - ideal for increasing the cosiness of your home to make this rocky period a little bit easier to cope with. A Persian Rug can transform an area bringing in colour and creating flow. By making and creating your living space exactly how you want, you’ll generate a welcome distraction and a feeling of comfort. Where focus goes, energy grows. Featured below are a selection of our new arrivals - the Persian Overdyed Rugs, which we think would partner well with your cosy corner.

 Featured Rugs (left to right) - TROY, DELIA, MARLY, FLEET

You can check us out on Pinterest and Instagram to keep up to date with the latest trends and rug inspo.  COVID-19 UPDATE - ONLINE SALES FULLY ACTIVE. Warehouse visits and House visits, closed. You can view one of the largest collections of Persian Rugs in London on our website and if you have any questions, you can contact us here.