7 Resolutions To Keep During Lockdown
The Experts At Stephen Young Salon in West Wimbledon Explore How To Keep Your New Year's Resolutions During The Lockdown
Did your Dry January fall flat just after 8pm on 4th January 2021? Are you shielding and perhaps can't get out for the daily exercise you promised yourself?
Whilst it is perfectly acceptable to view the coming months as challenging enough without the added pressure of resolutions, we know that many people will be feeling despondent at being hobbled before they’ve really gained any ground. Below, the Stephen Young team have some ideas for how you can continue with your New Year’s Resolutions in spite of the ongoing pandemic…
#1 Dry January
Dry January is one of the main resolutions that people attempt every year. It makes a lot of sense, drinking is bad for your body, your skin, bank balance and can heighten anxious feelings as alcohol is a depressant – not ideal during a global pandemic. Your hair also suffers when you drink alcohol as it becomes dehydrated and can look dull and lifeless.
One of the main struggles that people face with Dry January is the feeling of missing out on social events but, with a national lockdown in place, there aren't any social activities to attend! This makes it much easier to say no to a glass (or two) of wine this year, instead why not use this time to learn how to make a new mocktail, replace wine with water or sample some of those herbal teas that have piled up in your cupboard over the last year?
#2 Lose Weight and Exercise More
We appreciate that if you are shielding it can be difficult to get outside for a daily walk or run but there’s still plenty of exercises that you can do in your home.
There is a wealth of free or paid exercise programmes available on the internet for all levels of fitness, so whether it’s your first yoga session or you can already perform a perfect handstand, you’re sure to find something to get your heart rate up. Exercise is a fantastic way to release pent-up tension and reduce feelings of fear and worry.
Choosing a new fitness programme can help you to focus on improving the way you look and feel during the lockdown.
#3 Develop A Skin and Hair Care Routine
If you are at home during this lockdown, now may be the perfect time to perfect your personal care routines. Often, our clients tell us that they don’t have the time or aren’t sure how to develop the perfect home routine.
Firstly, we would recommend that you double wash your face morning and night, the first wash will remove make up and debris, whilst the second wash helps to dissolve deeper dirt, oil and dead skin cells, giving you a much more thorough cleanse. Follow this with a toner and SPF containing moisturiser - simple!
To keep your hair looking and feeling fresh whilst you can't visit the salon, we would recommend that you use a deep conditioning hair mask once a week and the lockdown is the perfect excuse to give your hair a break from heated styling tools and allow it to recover. If you can, try sleeping on a silk pillowcase to reduce frizz and breakage too!
#4 Make More "Me" Time
One thing that many of us learned during the last lockdown is that it is ok to take time for yourself. If you are already starting to feel overwhelmed with back to back calls, Zoom meetings and home schooling, book a meeting with yourself ASAP.
Reading, meditation, finding a new podcast or listening to your favourite music can help to calm and improve a busy mind or challenging day. Your “me time” may include running a bath, lighting a few candles and popping on a face and hair mask.
Whatever activity works for you, it’s important during this period of lockdown to give yourself some time to rest and recharge your batteries.
#5 Be More Organised
Do you ever find that there’s just not enough hours in the day for your “life admin”? Well, with many of us working from home or on furlough, now there is.
Whether your organisational goals include filing taxes, cleaning out the cupboard under the sink or sorting through those clothes that you promise yourself you’ll definitely wear, but never do, now is the time to get it sorted.
Make a task list of one thing every day that you want to organise, set yourself a timer and get to it - we promise you’ll feel a lot happier when you’ve finished! Get bonus points if you give any unused items to charity or sell them and add the money to your savings pot!
#6 Spend Less and Save More
The last year has been financially challenging for many of us so it’s no wonder that a popular New Year’s Resolution was to spend less and save more.
With super fast deliveries widely available, it was easy during the first lockdown for us to scratch our itch to get out and about with mindless consumerism (yes we’re looking at you with the daily Amazon parcels). This time, there’s less of a call for inflatable pools and the constant takeaways don’t fit the healthy eating resolutions we have in place, so it should be a little easier to save money.
Clearing out old or unused items can fetch a tidy sum when you sell online, why not open a lockdown savings account and pay your profit into it. If you do need items, why not shop around for the best deals available. If you've given up a bad habit, you could move the money that you'd usually spend on them into your savings fund instead – you’ll be amazed at how quickly it adds up!
#7 Be Kind To Yourself
Whilst this isn't necessarily a conscious resolution that many people make, we feel that it should be! These last 12 months have been particularly challenging and we owe ourselves some credit for keeping it together, working through it and being strong.
It’s not always easy but promise yourself that you’ll be kind to yourself when you get frustrated, turn off the news from time to time, and tell yourself how fabulous and loved you really are. If you struggle, just remember that we’ll be open again soon and we’ll be happy to remind you!
