How are you mentally surviving Covid?

[Emlou07]

What have you done over recent months or what do you plan to do over the coming dark/damp months to help your mental health during this shitty time?

I don't watch the news anymore

Yoga most days and HIIT sessions when I'm feeling lively. I'm doing quite a bit of drawing too.

Walking a lot more than usual. Taking breaks from the news/twitter. Making an effort to call and message friends. Not making plans bar a short break a couple of hours away. I’m a big planner and it’s too stressful bothering now so I’ve consciously stopped. We’re in tier 1 and if we feel like seeing people over the weekend we contact friends on a Friday and see if they want a walk or whatever. More than a day or so notice and it feels inevitable someone will have to cancel.

I’m cooking a lot more. Gives me something nice to do that I can control. So far the walking is balancing out the cooking

Avoid going to Tesco until it's absolutely necessary. All those people with their noses sticking out over their masks give me the rage. Avoid watching the news. Enjoying spending time with my DH and FaceTime with daughters and grandchildren. And finally my dogs are big comforters

I've restarted exercising and am making an effort to connect with friends.

Trying to make the home as cosy and inviting as possible. What are your hobbies OP? Each of us is different so what counts as self care for me might not work for you. Also there's so much joy to find outside in Autumn. Just appreciating the changing colours in the trees etc. Each month has something special about it even if it is cold and damp there are still some sunny days and cosy things you can do inside like lighting candles or making special winter drinks x

I've introduced little rituals to look forward to and break up the day. For example stopping for Ken Bruce's Popmaster and having a cuppa with DH. I'm also trying to go for a walk every day and noticing the changes in nature.
I scrapbook, knit and crochet and joined in with FB groups. It's nice to share what we're all making and the comments are uplifting.
Through scrapbooking I'm enjoying revisiting memories through photos and preserving them. It's lovely looking through the photos of better times. And it reminds me that time does pass and that we will be making new memories.
I also like to search for music I like on YouTube and see what it then recommends. I've discovered some great live performances and concerts.

Daily walks.
Not having to commute.
Cinema from time to time.
Museums that are open (I am in London).

HUGE amounts of exercise - running if the weather is good. We bought a really good spin bike, which gets used every day. We do exercise videos in the evening, once the kids are in bed and before we watch tv.

That and just adjusting our expectations downward. 2020 is a loss. I’m hoping from a good spring 2021.

But mostly exercise. SO. MUCH. EXERCISE.

Stopped watching or reading the news, I've got bugger all of a clue what's really going on, no clue as to any figures for my area or anywhere else and the best of all, no clue what nut job Johnson and Co. are going to try next. It's bliss.

Staying busy with things I enjoy and look forward to
Walks
Messaging with a couple of friends most days
Looking at pictures of cats