As the number of days that we've spent in lockdown creep higher and higher, I've been trying to focus on the good each and every day. Sure, there are days and even hours in an otherwise okay day where things start to feel difficult. But focusing on the good and taking a note of it in my diary app every night before I go to sleep has left me feeling a lot better.
So here are some of the good things that I've been focusing on;
Walking for at least an hour every single day
In the Summer months I normally try to get out for a big walk a few times a week but since the very first day of lockdown I have only missed a single day when it comes to my walks.
I'm lucky that there are two public parks within walking distance of where I live, so I've been going to those when they've not been too busy. I still don't get how some people don't understand what two metres means. But, I've found that walking past some of the big fancy mansions and literal castles about half an hour away from my house, to be my favourite route. Catch me daydreaming about winning the lottery and owning one practically every single day, even though I've never played the lottery. Maybe it's time to start.
Spreading kindness with Amazon wishlists
Towards the start of lockdown there was such a lovely trend on Twitter where people were sharing their Amazon wishlists. Since most of my wishlist is made up of books, I loved gifting people some of the books on their wishlists. And I was overwhelmed to receive several surprise parcels, such as these and these, from complete strangers on Twitter.
It put a smile on my face on days when there wasn't much else to get excited about. And I hope that my orders did the same for others.
Realising that I can live without the non essentials (and not going shopping)
Now I do miss going for a stroll through the shops/Primark in Glasgow City Centre or my local shopping centres. But I've not missed buying things.
I haven't made a single new clothing or accessory purchase since we started lockdown. However, that's not to say that I don't have quite a few bits on my wishlist. Ordinarily I would have just ordered a few sizes and taken back what didn't fit. But even the thought of going to the Post Office or struggling with courier drop offs puts me off adding anything to my basket at the moment. Has anyone else been the same?
Discovering new food/grocery items because my usual kinds are sold out
Honestly, it really is the little things that have been getting me through this. And something as simple as discovering a new type of biscuit or paper towel (yup, exciting stuff, I'm sure you will agree) because my usual favourites were sold out has made me smile. Some of the supermarket own brand products are really good (shout out to our local Aldi, who have been a real MVP during all this).
Discovering Ashley (bestdressed) on YouTube
For a couple of years now, I've pretty much been watching the exact same people on YouTube. Until I stumbled across Ashley's 'oops! I moved to NYC!' video one day and instantly felt the need to binge watch every video on her channel.
Her videos are artfully made, cover topics that I've got a feeling a lot of us will enjoy and relate to. And after watching just a few videos, you feel like she's someone you've known forever. I'm such a big fan!
But dressing solely for comfort
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been reaching for all of the loungewear these days. If it's not comfortable or takes pretty much zero effort, it's been relegated to the back of my wardrobe at the moment.
Comfiness is key. I'm talking plisse trousers, cosy hoodies, t-shirt after t-shirt and yoga leggings. Even though I have done precisely zero at-home workouts during this.
WHAT I'VE BEEN WEARING
I have been slightly dressing my comfy outfits up by wearing the beautiful Daisy London Estee Lalonde Goddess Medallion T Bar Necklace*. I was very kindly sent it just before lockdown started. It hasn't been anywhere fancier than our local parks. But I can't wait to start pairing it with proper outfits when all of this is over.
Actually taking a break & switching off
Bizarrely I've been spending less time than ever glued to my phone or social media. I'm not scrolling through Insta every hour or checking Twitter as often. And the constant 24 hours news cycle, where it just feels groundhog day every single day, has meant that I've had the TV switched off most of the day too. Unless I'm watching Netflix, of course. Which leads me to my final good thing to happen during self isolation.
Tiger King
Two words; Tiger King. If you haven't already seen the Netflix phenomenon, I promise you, it will give you something else to focus on, at the very least, during lockdown. I did a full review of it in last month's What I've Been Watching blog post. But let me just say, it is one of the wildest (pun intended) documentaries that I have ever seen!
If you can't get enough Joe Exotic after watching it. Be sure to check out Louis Theroux's America's Most Dangerous Pets episode.
How have you been coping in lockdown? What good things have you been grateful for, however big or small? And what will be some of the first things that you will do when lockdown is over?
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