Mental health awareness: lessons in lockdown

The COVID-19 lockdown has affected every single person in many different ways, our worlds have turned upside down and we are separated from those we love. The gravitas of the situation is huge and for some more challenging than others.

Government lockdown must be taken seriously, it is vital that we protect our NHS by staying home and observing social distancing.

With such heaviness it is equally important to maintain mental health, and if you can take the opportunity to try and find humour where possible.

Lock down has brought with it many challenges, the main one for a lot of people being the adjustment of working and being at home more.  I myself am no stranger to this adjustment, my slippers which are quite frankly disgusting , but my gosh are comfy, are now a permanent fixture welded to my feet and by the time this lock down is finished they will walk out the house of their own accord.

Without wanting to make too light of this situation, I asked friends, family and colleagues what they have learnt and observed over the last several weeks from lockdown, and without naming names this is what they told me!

• A friend’s husband recently had a board meeting via video conferencing, one of the senior directors went to the toilet not realising that the others who were also linked in could not only hear him but could also see him.  The lesson here; cameras work both ways!
• A relative of mine does part time accounts work and is required to go to her clients houses to deal with their companies book keeping, whilst observing social distancing she has learnt to adapt to her new work environments which now include but not limited to; porches, stair wells, her car and driveways.
• I asked a friend whether lockdown was saving her money, she responded with the following list; petrol £0, new clothes £0, entertainment £0, self care £0, nights out £0, recent shopping trip to Tesco £2,576.
• One person told me that they were actually enjoying self-isolation; ignoring people and crossing the street to avoid them was once considered rude and offensive. Apparently this is now considered responsible adulting.
• It is easy to take friends and family for granted, a colleague told me, you think they will always be there, until they are not.  ‘The lock down has taught me not to take the ones I hold dear for granted’
• Teaching your 78 year old father how to use Zoom was very entertaining for a friend of mine, in the end it took just over two hours to remotely teach his dad how to set up zoom on his computer, suffice to say he now has a new found appreciation for his nostril hair.
• An estate agent friend of mine told me about a house he recently sold using video tour, the seller ended up opening the house to let them in, all at a social distance and the house sold.   Showing how quickly people are adapting to living in this new but hopefully temporary way of life.
• I have a friend who is very quickly having to adapt to home schooling, she admitted that she hadn’t realised just how bad her maths actually was and was having to google the answers to her sons maths problems.  Her son is 12.
• I think we are all familiar with Joe Wicks, the personal trainer, dietitian turned You Tube PE sensation, a colleague told me she had done one of his hour classes, designed for kids and she nearly had a heart attack, three days later I still don’t think she has recovered.  Jo Wicks proving how embarrassingly unfit we all are.
• Going out is the new staying in, whether that’s just on the phone, face time, zoom or Thursday night live pub quizzes. Friends and family are staying connected in different ways and what seemed almost unimaginable two months ago has quickly become the norm one person said. They then went on to say that actually brings them hope, because whatever the new world looks like after lock down, we will adapt.

I hope these little anecdotes made you smile and if you have any stories you would like to share with us at Franklins about what lockdown has brought to you please let us know.

Stay safe and wash those hands.

For legal advice and assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01908 660966 / 01604 828282 or email info@franklins-sols.co.uk.