Kayleigh-Paige Rees, a model, actress and producer, brings you some helpful tips on staying positive during this unprecedented time.

During this scary time, none of us know where the light at the end of the tunnel will be. However, I have come up with a few tips on how to stay positive and busy while on lockdown. If you’re living in London or any other city in the UK it can feel lonely, as us city folk are used to being out and socialising, not stuck indoors. London is a 24/7 city where you are usually run off your feet doing something or another! However, knowing we all now have to stay inside I have some tips below on how to try and keep your spirits up.

Take advantage of the time

I am an actress and model and I’m not used to being home much throughout the day, so I’m using this time to read more, research, and develop skills I always used to complain about having no time to zone in on. Whether it’s a book you’ve been putting off reading, learning guitar, singing, learning how to TikTok even! This is your time to pick up some new skills and ways to pass the time.

Stop watching the 24-hour news cycle

I know it’s tempting – and don’t get me wrong, it is important to be aware of what’s going on in the world. However, watching news 24 hours a day can be detrimental to your mental health and can lead to negative thoughts. Instead of letting this happen, limit your time watching the news. Personally, I watch the news every day at 5pm to keep updated with the latest, and then I switch the news off and allow more positive things to influence my mind.

Make time to stay in touch with your nearest and dearest

Although we are in a period of social distancing this does not mean cutting yourself off to your nearest and dearest. Allow time for FaceTime, phone calls, send each other letters, anything to stay in touch and keep up your most important relationships.

Schedule your social media

This may seem like a strange thing to do, however, just like our point about the news, social media can become an unhealthy habit. In general, it has been found that actually restricting your time on social media can decrease the feeling of loneliness, especially if instead you’re concentrating on more positive and active activities.

Random Acts of Kindness

Anyone who is a fan of the BAFTA-winning show ‘This Country’ will know exactly what I am talking about. It was the theme for a very comic episode, but random acts of kindness can lead to happiness and fulfilment if you feel you are helping somebody. For example, on Thursday I am going to get my neighbour’s shopping and it makes me feel positive that I am helping somebody else. Anything like this is a lovely thing to do and can really boost your mood and day.

No guilt

I think this is one of the hardest things for me personally. There are a lot of days to fill when we are all going to be staying inside, and it’s easy to find things to do to keep you busy for perhaps a week. However, as time goes on and you have a lazy day or don’t get up to much it can make you feel negative and like you’re wasting time and not achieving anything! While everything’s on pause you need a bit of both to survive, you need those pyjama days as well as more productive days. If you have either day there is no guilt to be felt – just take each day as it comes!

Watch all the films and TV shows you’ve missed

Let’s be honest, there is so much content out there now on different streaming services that it is very hard to catch up! Now you don’t have to, you have all the time in the world right now to catch up on everything you’ve missed. Go on! Treat yourself!

It may be a scary time where we don’t know what’s going to happen in the near future, although I hope these tips can help you get through the next few weeks and that we can all go out for a drink together when this is all over! Stay safe, stay indoors and make sure to wash your hands 😊

You can find more of Kayleigh-Paige via her Instagram @kayleigh_px.