If we are friends on one of my social media channels, you might have heard me talking that the last couple of weeks were quite challenging. After eight months of living during a pandemic and most of it in lockdown, I am not an expert in how to deal with anxiety and stress during a lockdown, but I do know that sharing my experiences might help others, and it definitely helps me.

Like most of the world, I went to sleep one night and woke up in a completely different world the other day. Here in Montreal, we were at the end of our spring break. Spring break is a time when many families travel to a warmer destination to get a bit of a break from our cold winters. With many people returning from their holidays abroad, it was no surprise that Quebec was hit very hard by COVID-19, and Montreal, the city I live in, became the epicenter.

Seeing the footage of what the virus was causing in Spain and Italy made me feel extremely anxious. Everything just changed within a day, and all the little things that we took for granted were no longer possible.

My social life that is very important for a SAHM with three little children, was non-existent. My children were home from preschool, and my husband was working from home. We live in a duplex, and we have no backyard, and we had a strict stay at home order.

The cabin fever kicked in very quickly but going outside made me super anxious as well. I remember having panic attacks when going to the grocery store.

The long lines outside, a person coughing or coming to close, my level of alertness was all very tiring. The lack of certain daily items in the stores and empty shelves (toilet paper, diapers, flour, milk, eggs) things I never thought I would see in my lifetime (thinking about that shows how privileged many of us are in this part of the world).

I couldn’t sleep, and I was consuming too much news. I knew I had to find a way to deal with my anxiety and stress in lockdown. I also realized that I needed to take action sooner than later because this pandemic would be here for a while. Right now, we are eight months in, and there is still no clear solution; and we are currently experiencing the second wave and a new semi lockdown.

So how to deal with anxiety and stress in a lockdown? I am not sure if I have the answer, but I will share a few things I did which helped me.

Try to keep a routine

Create a routine for all your daily activities. This will give you some sense of normalcy in these unprecedented times. I must say I have a hard time with routines. As I mentioned in a previous blogpost, before becoming a SAHM the lovely ladies at daycare did most of my children’s routine.

Preschools were closed, and I was struggling with creating a routine for my children. I had a newborn baby at the beginning of the pandemic, which didn’t make things easier. But slowly and surely, I figured something out.

When the restrictions lifted a bit, my dear friend with the best ideas created a “summer camp” between our children. I am so happy she did and that she is so structured. Our children had a wonderful summer in our bubble, as did the parents. 

If it is one thing that the pandemic has taught me is that routines keep you sane!

Physical activity/working out

Work out and get some physical activity. My workout journey might have started to get back in shape after baby number 3, but working out has been so much more for me. I need it for my mental state of mind. Regular exercise promotes better sleep and gives you an energy boost, it improves your mood and is just right for your health. Depending on where you live, you might have the challenge that gyms are closed. Don’t be discouraged by that; if there is one thing this pandemic has taught us, it is resourcefulness. 

I have switched to zoom workouts with my trainer at least two times a week. Sometimes I can’t have live training with my trainer because of scheduling issues, and then I have this fantastic app to get my workout called the fitness Ally app. The fitness Ally app is one of the few fitness apps I love because Ally is like a virtual personal trainer; she follows your movement and can see if you are doing your workout right. If you have any questions about the app, send me an email or a DM on Instagram happy to tell you more about it.

Not into workouts, go for walks if the weather and your stay at home order permits. Nothing clears your mind better than a good walk. I know bikes were hard to find at the beginning of the pandemic in Canada, but if you have a bike, that might also be a good thing to do (gosh, I miss biking through Amsterdam)

I have linked a few items I have been using when working out. Working out has been one of my best ways to deal with anxiety and stress during this lockdown. I feel so good and reenergized after a workout.

Give voice to your feelings 

Giving voice to my feelings is something I could have done better. Having a range of emotions during these unprecedented times is normal. Most of us have never lived through something like this.

I was afraid to share my feelings because I was afraid to be judged. My husband still has his job; we are healthy, and many other people are suffering. But by thinking that, I didn’t give voice to my feelings and kept them inside. That wasn’t the best choice because it causes stress.

Everyone has their own experiences, and emotions play an essential role in life. Make sure that you process them and that you give yourself the time and space. Talk to a friend; don’t hide how you feel because if you do, it will catch up on you.

Be mindful of what you consume (Social Media, News)

Reduce anxiety and stress by being mindful of what you consume. It is essential to stay informed, but that doesn’t mean that you need to be busy with it the whole day. Limit the amount of reading and watching about COVID-19. Information overload can increase stress and anxiety and sometimes even cause depression.

Try watching or reading something that makes you happy and smile. Use your Social Media to share positive actions. Don’t share things on Social Media that are not true or have not been verified; these things can negatively affect others. Just sparkle joy where you can; it helps and we can all use some positivity right now!

Take action over the things you can control

We can’t control the pandemic. We can’t control how long all of this will take and how long we will be in lockdown. 

What helped me is to focus on things I could control. I have learned new things and signed up for different courses. 

Have you always wanted to try a new recipe but didn’t have time for it, this is something you might have the time for right now. Try to learn a new language. Get on Youtube and teach yourself how to salsa dance. What I want to say focus on things you can control. Learning new things is one of them.

I am sure you can list all the things you can control and do right now. 

And this might have been one of the good things that came out of being in lockdown. Because we have to stay at home, we have more time to get some of the things done we didn’t have time for before the pandemic.

Please let me know how you deal with stress and anxiety during the lockdown. We can all learn from each other in this.