Last week, in a particular down point, I asked the question on how do people manage to stay sane at these times when all we’re hearing on the news is constantly negative?

After 200 days of lockdown (over six periods of lockdown), I think many Melbournites like myself have been affected mentally over the uncertainty.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against lockdown because really, there’s no other choice when the majority of our population is unvaccinated. I am inspired by the numbers getting vaccinated but also get extremely irritated at those who choose to believe in conspiracy theories and make it difficult for those doing the right thing. Their selfishness angers me and in some ways, also goes towards affecting me too. I think it’s because I like to believe (somewhat naively) that overall, people will do the right thing for their community and when I find out that they’re driven by more selfish individual needs, well, it pisses me off.

Anyway, I asked this question on Twitter and received wonderful responses that also gave me ideas. After receiving these, for the next few days, I just listened to “Happy Music”. I put the search term in Spotify and then set off on my daily walk. Where I usually listen to French podcasts or other podcasts that make me think, just listening to music made such a difference.

Thank you to those who suggested that!

I have to ask this.

"How do you keep going every day?"

In light of all the negativity, the bad news, constant flux and change happening in our work, school and life, what do you do to stay sane through it all? Does it help?

— Helen Blunden #AlwaysBeLearning ????? (@ActivateLearn) August 15, 2021