Lockdown Lows
Lecturer, Stephanie Cox CA, addresses the feelings of uncertainty around lockdown and provides us with some top tips for tackling the lockdown blues in our latest blog.
As we approach the anniversary of the first lockdown, it’s only natural for many of us to be feeling uneasy about what the future holds.
Lockdown has and still poses numerous personal and professional challenges for all of us. Whether that be balancing home schooling as a parent, working from home, feeling isolated or just experiencing general anxiety about the situation that we find ourselves in.
Here at ICAS, the welfare of both our Members and Students is of paramount importance to us. That’s why we have a dedicated CA Wellbeing hub, where you can find numerous useful wellbeing resources.
Alongside this, we thought we would share our five top tips to help battle any lockdown blues you might be experiencing and to create a more positive mindset.
Stay connected
- One of the most important bits of advice is to reach out to others and speak about how you are feeling. Sharing experiences and connecting with your peers or loved ones can decrease feelings of loneliness.
- ICAS Members can use CA Connect to reach out to other Members in the profession. We also encourage our CA Students to engage with each other or to use Advantage to reach out to the lecturing team.
Keep active
- Keeping active is not only good for physical health but is also hugely beneficial when it comes to improving mental health. Regular exercise causes chemical changes in the brain which can help to positively alter your mood.
- At ICAS we have launched #ICASWellTogether – where ICAS runs, walks, wheels, cycles and swims around the world. It’s a fun, collective fitness challenge. Find out how to get involved.
Learn
- Learning new skills can help boost self-esteem and confidence. Something as simple as learning to cook a new dish or learning a language. There’s now an abundance of free tutorials online that can be used to aid learning.
- ICAS can also help with your continued learning through our weekly webinars. Check out our webinar hub to see past webinars and keep an eye out for emails announcing upcoming dates and topics.
Give back
- Giving back to others not only helps enhance feelings of connectivity but assists in achieving a sense of reward and community. You can even start small by simply sharing a blog or article with someone, or a gesture such as paying a coffee forward.
- Having a clear out, donating to a charity shop, contributing to a food bank or getting involved in local community work are also good suggestions to help focus on the good. Not only will this redirect feelings to a positive space, it also will help others that are struggling.
Pay attention to the present
- This is known as mindfulness. Be in the moment, cease and cherish the moment. This will help us appreciate life and can assist in creating a positive mental attitude.