By: Emma Mercieca, Clinical and Wellness Therapist Manager, Body Catalyst Kotara

Are you at day 19 of lockdown and on the verge of a Britney Spears DIY haircut? Fear not, here are 5 things that have helped me keep my sanity, and they might just help you too…

Meditation

I’ll be honest, before lockdown, I could count on one hand the number of times I have properly meditated. But what better way to relax the body in this uncertain time than to flick on a YouTube meditation video and chill for 10 minutes? Light a candle, open some windows for fresh air and let this daily routine lift your mood, clear your head and set you up for the day. The best thing is you don’t need a thing to do it…except the candle…and a TV / laptop…and YouTube.

Cooking

I have always had a passion for cooking, but having the time to prepare a 2-hour roast dinner or a 20 step lasagne was a luxury I couldn’t afford. Now is the time to get back into it! There are many components of cooking that are empowering – it brings out creativity (I always put a spin on a recipe), it can be challenging, fulfilling and nutritious; and it’s a great way to kill some ‘iso’ time.

Spring Cleaning

There is nothing quite like walking through the front door into a clean house. The fresh smell of lemon-scented Windex, the gentle caress of newly vacuumed carpet beneath the feet – absolute mood-lifters! And with these newfound hours, I have finally matched up the lids on my Tupperware containers, organised my array of mugs from 1999, thrown out everything that wasn’t bringing me joy, and I have even washed the ‘forgotten’ clothes that have been sitting in the bottom of the laundry basket. ‘Spring’ cleaning is not seasonal, it’s an attitude – it’s time to get things in order!

Exercise

Feeling like you’re leaving a hole in the lounge from sitting in that same spot scrolling through Netflix? Me too, but getting up (even if it’s indoors) and doing 30 minutes of physical exercise can do wonders for your mindset and wellbeing. Luckily, I have a treadmill and can pop my earphones in and listen to my Tiger King podcasts (don’t judge!) If you are treadmill-less, there are a squillion excellent home workout videos on Youtube, find one that suits your fitness level, and go hard!

Trying something new

I’ve always wanted a veggie patch in my garden. There is something about home-grown vegetables that is so much more satisfying than eating a store-bought veggie. So thankfully, with the help of my boyfriend, I have started growing my own! Now I just have to water and wait – I’ll be treating myself, and my boyfriend, vegetable risotto in no time. 

Your new passion might be reading – which is next on my list of ‘things to do with the time I was previously denied’. Whatever the book, reading is a holiday at home, an escape from the mundane, so join me in curling up with a good book, and let’s drift off to exotic places.

So there you have it, the 5 things that I have been doing daily to help stop from going bonkers during these unprecedented times.

Stay safe and motivated everyone!

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