As lockdown endures, this fortnight I thought I’d turn my philosopher’s stone in the direction of chemistry, rather than alchemy.

Most people have a fixed opinion on the circumstances under which they would take drugs themselves, or consider drug use acceptable. For most people, acceptable use would be to manage or remedy a health condition and acceptable procurement would be via your doctor and/or pharmacy.

My blogger’s wander this week will firstly spend some time encouraging you to have active, challenging minds and namecheck some of the drugs many people routinely ingest, without necessarily fully fact finding or contemplating their short or longer term consequences. Then we’ll take a tour over to the wild side, and discuss why people may choose to take illegal drugs and prescribe some Make Me A Plan methods for accessing these states without breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules or risking prosecution.

My Top Five Camouflaged Chemical Compounds

These are the substances which I come across with my fitness, nutrition and coaching clients most frequently as not considered to be a drug. I don’t consider blanket generalisation statements to be practicable or ethical in an area like this. In the spirit of the quizzical mind this blog seeks to encourage, if you are ingesting any of these drugs, it won’t make any difference to me if you don’t use a few minutes to do some research on them, but it might make a positive difference to your understanding and use of the substance.

Caffeine

Alcohol

The Pill (include any oral or internal hormonal contraceptives and replacement therapies in this category)

Fluoride

Taurine

Frames of Mind Four Ways

If you’ve previously used unauthorised drugs recreationally or addictively, the mental health confines of the COVID-19 quarantine period can be causing you to wonder if you’ll ever be able to access those states of mind again, with or without narcotic help.

Make Me A Plan is not here to judge, but to highlight informed risks. If you are currently an illegal drug user, please start or continue to engage with the appropriate support services. For anyone else, for whom a cold turkey approach may not be detrimental, trial these MMAP techniques for taking yourself to your required destination, without having to worry about leaving home or maintaining social distancing.

Euphoria

Remember the last time you really belly laughed? Good! Even if that was along time ago, your brain is ready and eager to replicate those virtuous vibes. Find the photo, video or journal that relates to the event or give anyone you were with a phone call to catch up and reminisce. You won’t even need to wash your hands after.

Relaxation

Relaxation is a habit and habits are learned. So, no time like the present to learn this one! You have to identify the one area that is bothering you most at the moment and then jot down a few ideas to begin to address that. An example could be that the constant flow of information about COVID-19 is getting you down. A few ideas you could try to get away from that and towards relaxation, are; 2 hours a day where you don’t check social media; 1 day a week where you don’t listen to the news, schedule half an hour to write down all the positive things about your health. And unlike the shops at the moment, none of these are one in, one out.

To forget or block things out

Stressors are incredibly potent; none more so than if we allow them to be. Take the power away from the stressors by actively detaching them from your day. Write down a bullet point list of the stressors and think to yourself “GO AWAY” with each stressor you write down. Ceremoniously crumple up the bit of paper and plunge it into the depths of the recycling (you can even bury it in the garden, after all, sunlight is the best disinfectant).

To access different dimensions/parts of your brain

This one is very simple, when you think about it, and also the one I reckon people are least likely to try – so I’d be delighted for you to defy me and let me know what you tried! You just have to think about, or jot down the hobbies and activities you do and enjoy most often. And then think of antonymous activities, and give them a go! It’s not quite 2 metres from one side of your brain to the other, but it’ll give you something to do, nonetheless.

Stay tuned to the Make Me A Plan Crew’s daily social media updates with helpful hints to promote wellbeing as Britain navigates through the COVID-19 crisis.

Our core theme blogs will also be focusing on socially distant teamwork during curious times – and keep your eyes peeled for some very special invitational guest bloggers gracing these pages very soon.

Next fortnight, I’ll be musing On Two Years of Running My Own Business. Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this topic you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning