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How to Survive Lockdown with the Kids & Keep Your Sanity
- Tam Sparkes
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In the shadow of a global pandemic, the term “lockdown” has become a familiar echo in households worldwide. As governments strive to curb the spread of the virus, an estimated 3.9 billion people, or half of the world’s population, have found themselves under Lockdown by the first half of 2020. Streets once buzzing with activity now whisper in hushed tones, and homes serve as multifaceted hubs for work, education, and leisure. With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Australia, the uncertainty, home-schooling, and keeping kids entertained can be overwhelming. So, how do you Survive Lockdown with the Kids and save your Sanity?
In this journey through lockdown, discovering tools and practices that transform our living spaces into havens of serenity is crucial. The right ambiance, a comfortable setting, and a mindful approach to our daily routine can elevate our living experience, nurturing our well-being and empowering us to face each day with renewed strength and optimism.
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How to Survive Lockdown?
According to medical experts, Covid-19 is sadly causing panic, unrest, and anxiety throughout the country. In a lockdown, we face the reality of irritating noise from our roommates, flatmates, neighbours, their dogs, and our own and neighbouring children.
I once read an article that has always stuck with me titled “Put on your own oxygen mask first.” It’s always stood out as a great analogy for me.
In times of crisis, we forget to look after ourselves; it is human nature for many of us. We often put our children, pets, and partners first. Self-care has to be your number one priority.
As the role model for your children, you need to be strong and remain on top of your game. If you get run down and fall apart, your family, who relies on you, will probably fall apart too.
Self-care can come in many forms, even if you only give yourself 10-15 minutes to do so.
12 Tips to Survive Lockdown
Here are some tips to help reset your mind, body, and soul:
1. Take a Bath or Shower
To take it to the next level, pour in some bubble bath, light some candles, and put in some earplugs to really relax & block out the world! The best-selling earplugs to block noise and water are Alpine Swim safe. When exposed to warm, soothing water, your body releases feel-good endorphins the same way sunshine does when it warms your skin. Oooh! that makes me want to escape and jump in the bath right now for a little peace.
2. Listen to Your Favourite Music
Grab your headphones so that you can block out the world, lay back on the couch, and chill to your favourite tunes. Music helps to take your mind off things and helps put you in a better state of mind to invigorate or relax. Better still, check out the awesome Armourwear Earwear Bluetooth Earmuffs.
Plugfones are comfortable, noise-reducing earplugs with high-quality audio speakers. The resulting hybrid provides the ultimate hearing protection & listening experience on the market. Perfect for all DIY around the home, working out, snoring partners, mowing the lawn, gardening & much more, or just chillaxin’ around the house.
3. Do a Crossword or Puzzle
The best way to take your mind off something is to distract your thoughts in some other way. Crosswords, puzzles, and the like help you keep your mind engaged.
If you’re being disturbed by noise from neighbours and or family members, try to seek the quiet of a separate room; if not, pop in your earplugs for some extra calm and quiet. I often go to my Mack Original Soft Foam Earplugs or my reusable Alpine Sleepsoft Earplugs when I want to get away from the world for a while.
4. Gardening
My all-time favourite place to be is in the garden! Gardening is very therapeutic for many people. Getting outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air has been proven to help reduce depression, stress & anger and help your immunity. Growing your own food can also help you eat healthier.
At least once each weekend, I love to put on my Macks Noise Cancelling Earmuffs and crank the leaf blower; it always leaves me feeling satisfied. I can happily potter for hours weeding, digging, and pruning. Hubby loves to jump on the ride-on lawnmower (even when our grass doesn’t need mowing because it’s his time alone, away from all distractions, and quiet time away from the kids – haha).
He always wears his Plugfone Wireless Headphones with Earplugs to listen to his favourite music. They are awesome because they block the sound and protect your hearing from the mower whilst allowing you to boogie along & stream your top playlist.
5. Meditation & Yoga
How to survive lockdown: It’s no secret that both meditation and yoga will help place your mind and body in a state of relaxation and calm. Using an Eye Mask during certain yoga poses can enhance effectiveness by blocking out distractions to focus more on your inner self.
Meditating in darkness has been used in advanced meditation practices in Tibetan Buddhism & Taoism & by spiritual seekers in dark caves for thousands of years.
Many people love to add aromatherapy to their calming experience and wear the Dream Essentials Aromatherapy Eye Mask. This mask is light and comfortable and further enhances your state of relaxation by omitting a sweet natural aroma of lavender.
It also has a contoured design, which means that it removes the pressure from your eyes and allows them to open and close without rubbing against the mask’s inside.
6. Exercise
Put on your runners or favourite comfy shoes and get outside for a walk. Fresh air and sunshine do wonders for the soul. Download a workout that you can do in your living room (there are LOTS of free ones available; all you need to do is search the internet to find them). Bounce on your kids’ trampoline, set a little circuit for yourself, and find things around the home to use as body weights, step-ups, etc.
It’s time to get creative! Then crank those tunes! Music reduces stress and increases motivation. If you need to keep the sound down for kids homeschooling, partners working, or to keep the neighbour’s sanity, put on your Music Headphones and bop away! Alpine PartyPlug Earplugs are great earplugs for the gym. They have specially designed filters that can block a lot of loud and distracting noise but still maintain the quality and clarity of music, and it’s just like turning down the volume.
7. Take Power Naps
How to survive lockdown: Put in your Earplugs and set a timer so that you can shut off from the world. Many studies have been conducted to help ascertain the perfect timing for a nanna nap & it’s understood that between 10 and 20 minutes of sleep is all you need!
Taking longer naps than this can cause you to feel more tired, sluggish & lethargic. With so much noise and added distractions from family members and neighbours, you must make the most of your time and block out all interference. Alpine Sleepsoft plugs are perfect reusable Earplugs for Sleeping and napping and creating peace.
8. Continue to Work
How to survive lockdown trying to maintain as much of your everyday life as you can. If you are one of the fortunate ones who have been able to keep their job and work from home, know that there will be a juggle of home/work balance. You need to let your children know you have your workspace and need your time and not be interrupted. Put in earplugs and watch your focus and productivity soar! Macks Dreamgirl Soft Foam Earplugs are specially designed for women and people with smaller ears. A popular earplug for men is Macks Maximum Soft Foam.
Set children up in their workspaces and ensure that they have their studies, activities, etc., planned to work through things. Even if you do this in 20-30-minute intervals, every little bit helps. Help your children block out frequent distractions with Children’s Earmuffs or Earplugs for Kids.
Experts say not to try to parent and work at the same time, which means that when you are working, make sure that you commit yourself 100%, but also, when you are with your family, be mindful of giving them 100% of your time physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is why blocking out all distracting noise is crucial in achieving results.
9. Reflect and Journal
Use this time for self-reflection. Journaling can help you process your thoughts and feelings, set goals, and track your progress. Reflecting on your experiences can provide clarity and a sense of accomplishment.
10. Limit News Intake
Staying informed is important, but overexposure to news can be overwhelming. Limit your news intake to a few trusted sources and specific times of the day to avoid constant anxiety.
11. Maintain a Healthy Die
Resist the temptation to indulge in junk food. A well-balanced diet is crucial for maintaining your immune system and overall health. Plan your meals, include plenty of fruits and vegetables, and stay hydrated.
12. Embrace Flexibility and Patience
Finally, understand that it’s okay to have ups and downs. Be flexible with yourself and others as everyone adjusts to this new way of life. Practice patience and self-compassion, knowing that it’s okay not to be perfect during these challenging times.
FAQs
How Can Earplugs Support a Healthy Routine for children Studying at Home?
Earplugs can be a great aid in minimizing distractions for children engaged in remote learning. It provides quieter study environment, earplugs help children concentrate better, understand and retain information more effectively, and participate in online classes without being disturbed by background noise.
What Role Do Earplugs Play For a Peaceful Home Environment During Lockdown?
Earplugs can play a crucial role in maintaining a peaceful home environment by allowing each family member to find their own quiet space amidst the collective hustle.
Conclusion
Try to maintain communication channels with friends, family, and neighbours in your everyday routine. Having a sense of connection and a feeling of community is essential for hope and healing. Stay connected with people via technology – do more video calls, phone friends to catch up, etc. Create WhatsApp, House Party, or Facebook groups; they can be a lot of fun!
About Author
Tam Sparkes
Tammy's journey has also led us into the realm of hearing protection. Her early experience with Tinnitus spurred her to educate people about ear health and the significance of hearing in overall well-being. While hearing loss was once associated predominantly with the elderly, our modern, noisy world has unfortunately seen an increase in hearing issues among teenagers and young adults. We are dedicated to spreading awareness and preventing hearing loss through education.