This year has been a year that I don't think anybody living through it will forget.

Something that struck me back in Lockdown 1 was the idea that 'we are all in the same boat', and realising we definitely are not. We are all negotiating the same storm perhaps, but our boats are very different.

I am a trained counsellor and have seen the impact that Covid-19 and the lockdowns have had. I know of at least three friends who loved it. They loved the fact that the pressure was off to socialise, in some cases to work. Life became simple for a while and families got to spend unexpected quality time together.

However, this most certainly was not the case for all. Spending time at home doesn't always mean being in a safe and loving environment. This, coupled with financial pressure and the total losses of jobs and careers for some, mean the pressure on us mentally and emotionally has been huge.

It's different this time around

This time around (Lockdown 2) feels a bit different to me personally. The weather isn't so great now and one in three of us are affected by the seasons changing and the darker days. (That's a whole other post right there!)

I have seen people who are so frightened by Covid-19 that they have completely isolated themselves, refused to see family members and are terrified by the idea of other humans coming within their perceived area of what is safe.

I have also seen the opposite; those who are more scared of the loss of freedom and contact. Those whose desperate craving for human contact means the fear of catching a virus is far less than the fear of restrictions and changes to our way of life.

However you are feeling and whatever your situation, you are not alone in this. There are tips and ideas out there on ways to care for your mental health at this time particularly, but actually I passionately believe that we should care for our mental health at all times as much as we do our physical health.

Some of the mental wellbeing advice would be:

• Stay connected. Human contact is important. We can still meet one person outside so try combining meeting a friend with having a walk. If we cannot get out with that person because of a distance issue, then virtual connection is the next best thing.
• Exercise: not my favourite word particularly – but it works! Keep moving in whatever way works for you, whether that is walking or dancing in your kitchen, exercise will help to lift your mood and keep you physically healthier too.
• Have a routine: this is especially important if your usual routine has been affected by lockdown restrictions. A routine could be something as simple as a walk in the morning, a film in the afternoon and making contact with a friend in the evening.
• Limit news and information intake. While it is important to be informed, it can also become overwhelming to hear a constant bombardment of death figures etc! If it is becoming too much, turn it off.
• Contact your GP if you are struggling mentally. They are there to heal our mental health as much as our physical health problems.
• Talk! Don't keep your worries and fears bottled up.
• Be kind. That has been said a lot recently, I know, but it's true. Be kind to those around you. It will make them and you feel better but also be kind to yourself – you are worth it.

The most important advice I can give though is to do what is right for you. You are the expert in yourself, and if what works is hiding under a duvet feeling annoyed with people saying you should go for a walk, then that is okay too.

We are all just getting through this the best we can. Just come out from under your duvet sometimes, pop back into your boat and the storm will eventually settle.