The effects of COVID19 on Mental Health.

Mental Health Week

To say the least 2020 has and IS a crazy year. Not in our wildest of dreams in 2019, would we have ever dreamt that in March 2020 most of the world would have been on lockdown and we would all have to be confined to working and staying in our own homes for the foreseeable future.

Initially in the early days of the crisis, being at home with your family, cooking, eating, walking, watching lots of TV was a treat. We had all being living such fast paced lives that we did not have a moment to reflect and to appreciate the little things.

As time is ticking away, everyone working in the hospitality and tourism sector are naturally concerned how and when will this sector start trading again and how we can start planning events both here in the UK and Overseas markets.

We are extremely fortunate with the help of technology we can still communicate efficiently and effectively with our clients here in the UK and across the globe. This is keeping us united and strong during this crisis period.

I asked my clients across the globe how COVID19 has affected them personally and what they are doing to stay positive during this time:

Anja from iDMC - It was and is a hard time for all of us and our relationships (business and personal). It is not easy to work or even thinking of work, if you do not know, if you will even survive or be able to have/get the basic things as food and pay the rent. It is hard to be dependent on other people or the government when you are used to bringing the income by yourself. 

Of course, there comes a time, when you feel that this goes nowhere and that you are trying and trying and not succeeding at all in moving from one place to another. But it depends what kind of a person you are. I am an optimist by nature, so I know that we will survive this and win the "fight". We just need to be strong, optimistic and get back on the horse. It is like falling down. Get up and get back in the saddle.

John from American Guest - I think it has been having a good family foundation to work from. I have never been a “worrier” but more of a stay positive and focused approach. Having the kids and work to distract the challenges I will say has kept me in a good spot.  While there is always a natural fear, I never let it consume me and instead know I can control it by knowing in the end everything will be alright as long as we’re all healthy. 

Fatima from TERRAEVENTS Portugal - has been doing Yoga daily and hoping that she will master it in the coming weeks. She has doing meditation and has been following some sites on meditation and trying to learn more on transcendental meditation which she is really interested in. She finds trying to bring some calm and peaceful moments help to keep the day more productive and less stressful.

I have had a mixture of all those feelings my clients have described during the duration of the last 9/10 weeks. Some days are better than others, but this is expected our lives have been turned upside down.

Initially I could not get my head round social distancing, however it is amazing how quickly our behaviours adapt, and we just accept it as our new normal.

During this period to keep positive, I have tried to keep as active and, in a routine, as much as possible:

• I try and walk 12,000 steps a day and yoga on a regular basis.
• I love to read and I have read lots of amazing books during this period.
• I have binged on Netflix to the point I have run out of things to watch.
• And I love Amazon Prime – I have bought numerous beauty face masks/eye masks/creams as now I have the time to have a proper beauty routine.

Everyone has different ways of coping with the crisis, and I feel in times like this you have to be kind to yourself.

Self-care is important and whatever it is that makes you happy, you should incorporate it in to your daily life.

Keep smiling x