Welcome back to The Velvet Runway, where today I want to share with you my 5 Top Tips to stay sane during lockdown.

I realise that I haven’t posted for a little while. I was looking forward to updating you on my recent trip to Seville and sharing more style tips with you. 

However, as we start another week of lockdown with some of us working from home, some of us unsure of our future and some of us worried about family and loved ones, that seems not only a long way off, but also a little insensitive right now.

Like me, you’re probably coming to terms with the fact that you’re about to be spending a lot more time at home for the foreseeable future. 

These are un-chartered waters and when you’re not sure what the next few weeks – or even the next few days – will bring, it’s easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed.

So, I wanted to drop by and share with you my 5 tips to stay sane, calm, positive and focused during this crisis.  

5 Tips to Stay Sane During Lockdown

tips to stay sane during lockdown

✨ Get into a daily routine

It’s important to create certainty when you’re living in uncertain times. For me, getting into a routine helps keep me grounded and prevents me ‘freaking out’.

However, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t follow your routine 100% – it’s important to be kind to yourself too! I have days when it all feels a bit overwhelming, and the cookie jar wins out over the routine!

And I am completely breaking my routine at weekends, as otherwise I feel that every day is the same! This is even more important if you’re working from home as you need to set boundaries so your work doesn’t occupy 100% of your time.

I like to “book-end” my day by starting with a morning routine (in my case I choose to do any fitness / exercise in the morning) and ending my day with a “wind-down” routine, where I do any meditation/ journalling etc. Then whenever happens in the rest of the day, at least I am totally in control of the beginning and end of the day, which really helps me to stay sane.

✨ Learn a new skill/ Plan for the future

There is no benefit in worrying about a worst case scenario, but instead use this time to plan and prepare for the future.

What new skills or learning could you acquire? What have you always wanted to do but never had time for?
Here are a few examples of self-improvement projects you could take on:

tips to Stay sane during lockdown

i) take an online course in something you have always wanted to learn
ii) learn a new language
iii) write that book you always knew was inside you
iv) teach someone a new skill (online of course!)
v) finish a home decorating project
vi) landscape/redesign your garden
vii) overhaul your image / refine your style
viii) plan your next vacation for when travel becomes possible again

✨ Stay connected (virtually)

Whilst it is essential to practice social distancing physically, it is more important than ever to stay connected virtually.

We are lucky to live in an age where technology allows us to stay in contact easily. So, call/ text/ message/ skype/ hold virtual parties!

Stay sane

Do whatever works for you to stay in contact with your friends and family. We will get through this together!

✨ Try to stay healthy : exercise and get some fresh air

You don’t need to be able to get to the gym to get some exercise – there are lots of online fitness classes (many of which are free) that you can do at home, without the need for any equipment.

tips to stay sane during lockdown

If you have a garden, then make sure to get outside and get some air. If not, then throw open the windows and/or step out onto your balcony.

✨ Practice gratitude, meditation and/or yoga

tips to Stay sane during lockdown

Build some time into your day to focus on calmness. Nothing will improve by living in a state of constant stress, so focus your energy on the positives. It’s important to keep your mind active and happy and to look for calm amid the chaos.

Personally, I’m focusing on spending quality time with my family, decluttering physically and mentally, spring-cleaning, taking online courses and working on projects that I didn’t have time for before.

I hope you enjoyed this feature about 5 tips to stay sane during lockdown and you can have a look here for more mindset inspiration.