Here are some tips and advice on how we can keep on top of our mental wellbeing and cope during times of uncertainty.
1. Connect with others - Maintaining healthy relationships with people we trust is important. Stay connected via email, social media, facetime and telephone. Adjust your social media intake if it is making you anxious.
If you haven’t got anyone to talk to you can call emotional support lines like SANEline and The Samaritans.
2. Be active - Our physical health affects how we feel. It is important to eat healthily, drink enough water and exercise regularly. Build physical activity into your daily routine for example cleaning your home, dancing to music, seated exercise, online workouts.
3. Take notice and focus on the present - Engage with nature. Open the windows to get fresh air, watch the birds, make the most of any private outdoor space, tend to houseplants, listen to natural sounds apps. If you have a private garden spend time outside.
4. Stick to the facts and limit your news intake - Do not stay glued to the news . A constant stream of news can cause anyone to feel anxious or distressed. You could set yourself a specific time to read updates or limit to checking a couple of times a day – use trustworthy sources.
5. Have a routine - Maintain a sense of routine and try to follow your ordinary routine as much as possible. Wake up and go to bed at healthy times, get enough sleep. Include time to relax.
6. Keep your mind active - Do something you enjoy. Find something of value in your day and do something for yourself (download a podcast, watch a box set, art and crafts, cooking, gardening, reading a book, DIY). Take a free online course.
7. Offer support and help others - Helping others makes you feel good. If you are able to try and think of things you can do to help those around you safely and in line with official guidance. Find out how you can help here.
Check in with friends, neighbours or colleagues who may be self-isolating or vulnerable.
8. Keep your children informed - Explain the facts but try and avoid scare stories and over-exposure to the news. Be as truthful as possible. See talking with your children about world news.
9. Take care of your immediate environment - As you are spending a lot of time at home, you may find it helpful to keep things clean and tidy. If you live with other people, it could help to decide together how you’ll use different spaces for example spaces for work.
10. Working from home - Working from home can be challenging and isolating. Try to keep a structured day, with a routine for work and to keep both formal and social connections flowing with colleagues.
