Things I’ve been Grateful for During Lockdown

This past year has been crazy. Lockdown has changed how many of us see the world. Our lives were flipped upside down and the definition of “normal life” will possibly never be the same again. The pandemic has prevented us from seeing loved ones and has caused the loss of family members, friends and livelihoods. However, I’ve been trying to see the good that has come out of the past year and I want to encourage people to consider what they were grateful for during lockdown. So, here are some things that I was thankful to have during the pandemic.

My Placement at BeautyBooker

For those that follow me on social media, you most likely heard that I was on work placement this semester at BeautyBooker. Although I would’ve loved to work in an office or newsroom, working from home had its benefits. It gave me a unique experience and allowed me to adapt to working in my flat- helping me realise that I can be productive anywhere. I’m unbelievably proud of the work I produced for BeautyBooker. I was allowed to create, host and edit a podcast from the ground up, which is something I never thought I’d be able to do. I completely underestimated myself and proved myself wrong. My placement at BeautyBooker was amazing and I’m very grateful for the experience. Being able to work on new and exciting projects helped me cope with our third lockdown in Aberdeen.

Entertainment

Entertainment was a major part of our lives during lockdown- so much so, that I started my day with it every morning. As mentioned in my “Lockdown Morning Routine” blog post, Ryan and I watched an episode of Pokemon with our coffee/tea and breakfast everyday. Shortly after that post was published, we moved onto Scissor Seven (a charming Chinese anime on Netflix). Lockdown gave many of us the opportunity and time to watch movies and TV shows we’ve always wanted to and maybe re-watch some classics (We’re currently re-watching Friends). Shows like Wandavision and Tiger King were HUGE during lockdown- everyone was talking about them online and sharing their opinions on them. My love for reading has been reignited during lockdown (although I’m still a slow reader) and I played a LOT of video games. I appreciated anything that kept me occupied and entertained while stuck in the flat. I don’t think I’ll take streaming services and video games for granted ever again as they’ve supplied countless hours of escapism for me.

Technology and Social Media

Although digital detoxing is becoming increasingly important for mental health, I loved social media during lockdown. I think many people became more authentic and “real” on social media. I’ve posted photos of my make-up free face on my Instagram- something I never would’ve dreamed of doing before lockdown. And I saw plenty of other people doing the same. As well as that, I used social media as a way of communicating with my family and friends. Even though we had less to talk about, I video called my mum a LOT more often. I was also able to start my Upcycle with Me Facebook Livestreams. These have allowed me to spend some dedicated time painting and sewing. Although I’m still using my laptop to stream with, I’m not mindlessly scrolling on my phone- which I found myself doing a lot during the first lockdown. Technology as a whole has been a huge help for me during lockdown. I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to stay in contact with the outside world during months of staying inside.

My Blog

Although Thrifty Mango existed before lockdown, I convinced myself I was too busy with university work to commit to posting regularly. During lockdown, after I submitted my uni work, I chose to return to my blog. I decided to post weekly to keep myself occupied and spread positivity during such a tough time. Writing for the blog gave me a sense of purpose and helped me through that summer. Summer is when I’d usually spend time with friends and go home to visit my family. So, it felt strange not being able to do that. Living in the city centre meant that I’d look out my window to see the usually bustling streets, eerily silent. Distracting myself by writing about my interests and passions was essential for me and has changed my routine completely. Hopefully, Thrifty Mango will continue well after lockdown because it’s become a huge part of my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

You can read my first post during lockdown here.

Mental Health Awareness

With people stuck inside and in isolation, it’s no wonder people’s mental health has taken a big hit. However, as a result, mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety have gotten more attention online and in the media. As someone with anxiety, I was grateful to be living with my boyfriend during the first lockdown. Before lockdown started, my parents offered to bring me back to Ayrshire to spend the duration of lockdown with my family. However, I decided that staying in Aberdeen with Ryan would help me with the rest of my uni work for that semester. The week or two leading up to deadlines is the most stressful time of year for most students, and I knew that my anxiety would be going through the roof. Having someone who deals with the same deadlines and coursework to keep me in check helps calm me down. This was a difficult decision for me to make since I knew that, either way, I would be an anxious mess no matter where I was or who I was with. Seeing people having more understanding of mental health was a huge help to me- and many other people. Scrolling through Instagram and Facebook, I saw a massive wave of people extending kindness and empathy for people who were struggling during lockdown.

My mental health has always been something I largely kept to myself before lockdown. I don’t make a big deal about it and don’t mention it much when I don’t have to. However, lockdown has made me realise that speaking up about mental health issues and sharing my experience helps raise awareness. Let me know if this is something you’d be interested in me sharing in a future blog post.

My family and friends

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As I mentioned before, social media made lockdown a lot easier as I could stay in contact with my family and friends. My parents have been incredibly supportive and have helped me through lockdown immensely. The frequent calls I had with my mum helped us both and she’s always there when I need her; whether to help with the blog, to have a serious discussion or just have a good laugh. My dad has made sure to let me know when he’s got a job in Aberdeen and stop by for a socially distanced visit before driving home. This was especially appreciated during my placement when I was barely leaving my flat and sometimes forgetting to give myself a break. I was also fortunate enough to be able to visit home after the first lockdown and at Christmas to spend some much needed time with my parents and brothers. Meeting up with friends for walks and having a catch up now and then really helped me feel less isolated.

Living with Ryan during lockdown was a challenge and a blessing all at the same time. Living in my studio flat for the first lockdown was difficult but it didn’t strain our relationship. Moving into our current flat was stressful but has turned out well, having more space has helped us during the months of staying indoors. But in all seriousness, Ryan and I have managed to make it through lockdown, which is a huge achievement for us. Many people I’ve spoken to about it have told us that we’ll be able to make it through anything since we’ve stayed together throughout such a difficult time. And I agree, lockdown has been an awful time, but Ryan has been there to support me through it all.

Although I don’t think any of us will look back and remember lockdown fondly, it’s good for us to reflect on the positive aspects of any situation. We’ve made it through this so far, and hopefully, Covid will be behind us for good soon. I’ll remember all the nights I spent playing video games with Ryan and the hours spent reminiscing with my mum over the phone. I’m thankful for everything that’s helped me through lockdown. What were you grateful for during lockdown? Please share it in the comments below.

Thank you so much for reading x

Photography: Scott Brown, Ryan Duff