5 ways to boost your mood during lockdown

I think it’s fair to say that life’s a bit of a rollercoaster for many of us at the moment. Full of ups and downs and the accompanying highs and lows in our mood that come with navigating our way through the uncertainty of a global pandemic.

Many of us are spending most of our time at home now, without the usual social interactions that come with our normal workplace (and even if we can go to work, it’s with huge restrictions and socially distanced), or going about our daily routines of school drop-offs, shopping and visits to the gym / coffee shop / pub / parks etc. And with all of this isolation and separation can come a knock to our mood.

So here are a few simple ideas to help lift your mood if you’re feeling a little low:

  • Turn up those tunes! Music is a well-known mood-booster, so find a favourite upbeat song to listen to, crank up the volume and just take some time to let those feel-good vibes nourish your soul! Music has always been a main go-to for me to lift my spirits and it really does work!
  • Have a laugh – there’s a lot of research to back this one up and apparently, laughter really is the best medicine for when we’re feeling low. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals and promote an overall sense of wellbeing. So why not put on your favourite comedy show and let those endorphins work their magic.
  • Get moving! A favourite for me and my family is to get dancing! If I can see we need a little pick-me-up, I’ll turn the radio on and we’ll just dance around the kitchen together – it works wonders! Another idea is to find a short video online, I’ve found some great dance HIIT and Zumba workouts on YouTube that I can easily fit in when I have 20 minutes to myself. Without doubt I come away feeling so much better than when I started.
  • It’s good to talk – communication is so important in getting through these strange times and a phone call / video call with your best mate or a loved one can really help you to feel connected. If you need to, vent your frustrations and get them off your chest, or talk through how you’re feeling and get some support from family and friends – we really are all in this together!
  • Look at old photos – whether that’s looking through photos on your phone or laptop, or flicking through an old photo album from years ago that’s gathering dust in the back of a cupboard, take a few minutes out to look back at happy times you’ve had. Focus on those good times and happy memories and feel gratitude for those times for a dose of feel-good vibes.

Let us know if you’ve got any other mood-boosting ideas to share with us! Look after yourselves.