How do you manage to enjoy life with all that's going on in the world (economy, job losses, rona etc)

[onedaysoonish]

I'm a worrier and a dreader. With all the job losses that have already happened, all those that will very likely happen, the probable future increases in tax, the fact that house prices are mental, how do you not just get up in the morning and keep going (I know that's not a choice) but enjoy life? It all just looks so bleak but life is short etc. How do you enjoy your life with all this hanging above your head?

Concentrate on things you can change.

Don't worry about the things you can't.

I'm finding it harder the longer it goes on.

I've done activities I have enjoyed like a walk in a pretty area but it's been a long time since I've actually felt happy.

I can't work at the moment due to 2 children being off school and as well as the financial hit, it also feels like part of me has been taken away.

I'm hoping once the current drudgery of home schooling stops for the summer then things might be a little brighter.

The fear of a second wave over winter, more home schooling, no work and the constant underlying worry about either myself or someone I love getting sick, is hard to dispel though.

Concentrate on the positive things in life- your family, pets, a good book, gardening. Also remember we’re still living a very comfortable life compared to how people lived over fifty years ago.

Thanks for starting this thread op, I'm the exact same as you. I worry about everything and have a lot of anxiety over everything just now.
Dh is off work this week and I've just realised he makes me feel worse. He isn't a worrier, he will worry if it's important but otherwise he doesn't ruminate and fret over everything like I do.
But I feel him saying stop worrying, you need to speak to someone, makes me feel worse. I've read and seen so much on telly about people feeling anxious and worried about the future and the virus, I think feeling that way for a lot of us is normal just now. Of course there's lots of people like dh who don't worry, don't get anxiety and they can't understand how we feel. I told dh I can't help this, if I could get rid of it I'd love to. I hate feeling anxious, but his "just stop worrying" rhetoric when I can't, doesn't help..

As much as possible I ignore anything that doesn't directly affect me and even if it does I try to focus just on what is in front of me that day. I think it's easy to become depressed and feel hopeless if you read/listen to all the gloomy news all the time. Back in 2016 when we got Brexit and Trump within five months I found myself feeling really down about the state of the world and I resolved then to limit my intake of depressing news and boy has that been a useful tactic in the past four years!

I know there isn't much to look forward to at the moment, but find those small things that you do enjoy - a good book, a walk with a friend, your regular exercise, whatever brings you joy - and focus on that. I just don't give too much headspace to the grim stuff and that allows me to maintain my mental equilibrium.

Art, music, nature, books, food, pets.

Get off social media - it's ruinous for mental health.

I read lots. Its nice to lose myself in fiction or someone else’s reality.

I stopped watching the evening news after the last election result and it's been a very positive move for my mental health. I listen to news on the radio so I stay informed but just briefly once or twice a day

All the usual boring stuff about staying healthy- eat well, exercise, drink water, get enough sleep. It all makes such a difference to general wellbeing

I spend time thinking about what I have to be grateful for, and that's a lot.

Don't worry about the things I can't change and focus on the things I can change. It's an attitude I've had for many years. It's easy to say I know but it takes time to believe it and make it a core ethos.

Don't get me wrong, I have moments of feeling anxiety and frustration. I let myself feel sorry for myself but pull it tougher to think of a plan of action.

I also meditate, go for walks and go for a run. Listen to podcasts and motivational speeches. They all help but action is the main thing

'I let myself feel sorry for myself '

I think this is really important. ALLOW yourself to be anxious - it's a very uncertain time for everyone. Anxiety is a perfectly normal response. We often put ourselves under pressure to 'think positive' all the time, and that's not realistic or healthy. So acknowledge your feelings, give them some space, and dont shame yourself for having them

I agree with the poster who said that reading helps, but as well as losing myself in feelgood fiction (which I do sometimes) I also like to read non fiction set in other countries or periods of history. It can be helpful to remind yourself that, although things do look pretty bleak now, people have often faced very difficult situations and still found ways to be happy.

@Lottapianos

'I let myself feel sorry for myself '

I think this is really important. ALLOW yourself to be anxious - it's a very uncertain time for everyone. Anxiety is a perfectly normal response. We often put ourselves under pressure to 'think positive' all the time, and that's not realistic or healthy. So acknowledge your feelings, give them some space, and dont shame yourself for having them

That's so true. I'm embarrassed to be so anxious and worried, but it doesn't stop me living my life. I just need it acknowledged sometimes, not brushed aside like its a failing.

Thank you for saying that.

Turn off the news.

You'll be ten times happier.

I am by nature an overthinker but am getting better the older I get. 🙂

I rarely watch TV, don't participate on SM apart from a quick scan of FB to see what friends are up to and I have stopped watching the news. I read the news headlines on my phone, so stay updated but don't go into great detail.

Also, I walk. If I'm feeling a bit 'jangled', I find a walk is really helpful and helps me wind down.
Plus pets - don't underestimate the power of pet ownership. 😻 🐕 🏇. They make everything seem alright. 🙂

Frankly, I cannot. However, I am of the view that Life is work rather than Life is fun.

The last six months have been something I would like to erase from my memory. I'm not depressed, I don't dwell on it, I simply switch off thinking about it because I cannot do anything about it, and to be honest I know full well there are others for whom this really has been the worst thing in their lives, and I can appreciate they're struggling badly at present.

Thanks everyone. I think I probably need to get off the news apps and only read the non-current events threads on mumsnet! And maybe a walk and a good book.

Exercising massively helps my mental health and positive state of mind - mix of exercise on YouTube, bike rides and walks. Meeting friends, reading interesting books, watching series on TV, actually overall I’ve found learning about new things to be a good thing and avoiding too much negative news.