My Lockdown

We may all be fed up staying indoors as we navigate our third national lockdown but taking care to stay positive and keeping busy is absolutely paramount. I find having a structure to my day and plenty of fun things to do at home keeps me positive and entertained.

Working from Home

I’m fortunate to be working from home, we have video calls/zoom meetings, though I really miss the social interaction at trade events. I love listening to RTÉ Radio 1 in the background but I have to remind myself to stay away from the kitchen.

Keep Fit & Active

I enjoy walking every day for 1 hr and we’re lucky to be near the sea in An Spidéal. We have a beautiful prom, it’s really beneficial for both your mind and body to keep active and it just clears your head. I also recommend the fitness app “FitOn”

Set up a Home Spa

Once a week I like to pamper myself! Take a long bubble bath, paint your nails and apply a facial mask. Make the most of having time to relax and focus on your beauty regime.

Catch up with Friends

Social isolation can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health. Beat the loneliness by using your free time to catch up with friends via Skype or Facetime, even Whatsapp groups are a great way to stay in touch.

Board games

After watching “The Queen’s Gambit” we have the chessboard dusted down and permanently set for a game. Board games are for life and I love them, so dig your Monopoly board, Trivial pursuit, charades out from the back of the cupboard and set up a tournament, it’ll bring out the competitive spirit in almost everybody.

Watch TV

I love comedy and have taken this opportunity to watch some hilarious series Cuckoo and Schitts Creek. I really enjoy Tommy Tiernan show, Irelands Fittest family, Ros na Run, you really will be spoilt for choice and its absolutely guilt-free.

Get Reading

There are endless benefits to reading, whether you want to escape to other worlds or just relax. My favourite book is Charlotte Bronte’ Jane Eyre, but I love Marian Keyes I just laugh out loud at all her books, currently reading “Grown Ups”

We know this whole situation is difficult, I wanted to share this with you to remind you that there are ways to enjoy yourself right now.

Stay safe and stay positive,

Kind regards, Deirdre

Some recommendations on things to watch, listen & do to combat the stress of Covid 19 are below.

Tune out with a relaxing Podcast:

A gorgeous Podcast about a local radio station set up in Roscommon for cocooners.

https://pca.st/episode/7907420e-700e-4efa-a47c-484db63e4bc1

Happy Place – Fearne Cotton

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/happy-place/id1353058891?mt=2

To help you sleep:

A great App to help sleep: https://www.calm.com

Or Have Cillian Murphy put you to sleep- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWN1xmez8Xk

Film and TV:

Film and TV are a great way to tune out!

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/netflix-the-best-101-films-to-watch-right-now-1.4120427

https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/coming-soon/whats-coming-to-netflix-in-december-2020-11-17/

Netflix series: The Queens Gambit, Ozark, Unbelievable, The Crown

Others : Des- ITV, The Morning Show- Apple TV+, The Boys- Amazon

Some Good Articles on looking after your mental health:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ie/blog/hope-resilience/202004/7-ways-cope-covid-19

https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/mental-health/covid-19/minding-your-mental-health-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak.html

https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/healthy-ireland/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/together/

Mindfullness meditation: https://www.verywellmind.com/best-guided-meditations-4843806

Tá roinnt moltaí maidir le rudaí le faire, le héisteacht leo agus le déanamh chun strus Covid 19 a chomhrac thíos.

Bí ag éisteacht le Podchraoladh suaimhneach:
Podchraoladh taibhseach faoi stáisiún raidió áitiúil a bunaíodh i Ros Comáin do chócarálaithe:
https://pca.st/episode/7907420e-700e-4efa-a47c-484db63e4bc1

Happy Place – Fearne Cotton

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/happy-place/id1353058891?mt=2