Coronavirus: Looking After Your Mental Health
Social distancing can prove very difficult so it's even more important now that we look after our mental health as best we can.
Throughout this period there’s lots of things we can do to look after ourselves, our mental wellbeing and #feelgood.
1. Take a break from the news
While it’s important to stay informed, listening to a lot of negative information can make us feel overwhelmed and fuel anxiety. It can be tempting at times like this to constantly be checking the news, so try to limit how much coverage you listen to each day to 30 minutes and make sure you only check reputable sources.
If you’re unsure of where to look, here are some useful links with the latest up-to date information and advice.
2. Stay connected
Self-isolation can be lonely so it’s important you stay connected with family and friends by phone, email or social media.
Even better, give video calling a try! Seeing someone’s face can help lift both your and their mood, so don’t be camera shy. There’s lots of free video calling services you can use including:
- Messenger
- Skype
- Facetime
Inevitably talking about Coronavirus may creep into the conversation, but try to make sure you also talk about something different, even if it’s what you’ve had for dinner or watched on TV that day! You could even do a joint home work out to keep each other motivated!
3. Stay productive
Utilise your time at home by doing some fulfilling tasks. Do a ‘Mrs Hinch’ and create a list of things you want to achieve that day or week. That could be having a spring clean, cleaning out that cluttered cupboard in the spare room (we all have them!) or reading a chapter of a book you keep meaning to start. Ticking these off as you go along will give you a feeling of accomplishment and help you see clearly how productive your day has been.
4. Start a new hobby
Starting a new hobby can help stimulate the mind and fill up some free time. It’s also great for mindfulness as it usually means you are concentrating on one thing during that time. Some ideas you might like to try might be cooking new recipes, trying a new online fitness class, reading, drawing, crafts and DIY.
5. Get some fresh air
If you’re self-isolating you might not be able to go outdoors, but it’s important to still get some fresh air and daylight. We know the weathers is still cold, so pop on your woolly jumper and open a window or your back door for a short period of time and enjoy the fresh air.
6. Stay active
Exercise releases endorphins which boost our mind and make us feel good. We have some home workouts that we’ll be sharing with you during the period of isolation to help keep you active, so make sure you follow our Facebook page. Try out our On Demand fitness classes with over 1500 workouts to choose from!
7. Mindfulness
Meditation is a useful way to ease anxiety and clear your mind. There’s plenty of free apps available to download such as Headspace to guide you through breathing techniques and meditation.
Yoga and Pilates are a great way to relax and boost your mood. Try out our On Demand fitness classes with over 1500 workouts to choose from!
8. Seek support
Don’t struggle in silence. Speak to a family member or friend you can trust. Alternatively, there are a number of helplines you can reach out to.
See a list of helplines below.
Samaritans
- www.samaritans.org
- Freephone: 116 123 (24 hours)
- Email: jo@samaritans.org
Citizen’s Advice
- www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- Freephone: 03444 111 444 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)
- Text Service: 03444 111 445
