Whilst looking after your physical health is key – handwashing, exercise etc Looking after your mental health is so important too!!These are uncertain times and that can be stressful. Stress whilst good in smaller doses (it can be motivating and encourage us to plan and prepare) can be detrimental if it takes over. You can take simple steps to ensure your wellbeing is taken care of!
There’s some great information out there from reputable sources about managing your mental health and wellbeing specifically during the Coronavirus outbreak. :
Stay Social!If you have to isolate – communicate in other ways. Facetime/Skype your friends and family and keep that communication going. We are all in this together and no one should have to feel alone. Physically isolate to keep safe but don’t socially isolate. With all the modern technology we have these days we can be more social able than ever whilst sat in our own homes. Phone those friends you never get around to calling, find out what they have been up to these last few months. Make sure you are a member of the York Mumbler chat group on Facebook. Support and advice for parenting issues is always available from the local network of Mumblers and it’s invaluable at times like this to not feel alone.
Regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing mental ill-health. FACT. Your usual exercise options might not be possible right now if isolating but there’s still plenty of exercise opportunity. Cleaning/gardening, both productive tasks and great exercise! Fitness DVD’s / youtube exercise videos can all be done in the comfort of your living room. Bicep curls with all those stockpiled tins. If you have a garden this offers more opportunity and depending on space could allow for a power walk or mini-game of football with the kids.
Staying on top of the news is important with guidance changing rapidly from day to day. HOWEVER, this can become ever consuming. With access to news feeds 24/7 via our tv’s and phones it can be hard to escape. Limiting your exposure can be helpful to achieve a balance. This allows you to focus on the here and now, day to day life, your family and all the many good/happy things that are still going on in the world (and will continue to go on). Tuning in to a daily round up or having 10 minutes to read the summary updates on the news apps will ensure you are up to date with what you should / shouldn’t be doing and the next steps to take.
Routine is important. Having a planned structure can help people feel more motivated to achieve tasks if they have planned to do them beforehand. Writing it down helps, it makes you feel more committed to sticking to the routine. Build-in meal times (meal ideas HERE), exercise, playtime (101 things to do at home and in the garden with the kids HERE), relax time, jobs/chores, home education with the kids if appropriate (online educational resources HERE) etc
Focus on the PositivesIt sounds odd to say such a thing, what positives?! but they can ALWAYS be found! This strange scenario presents us with all sorts of opportunities if feeling well but self-isolation is required:
Deep clean the house (as a mum of 2 this NEVER happens and I can’t wait to have the time to blitz!)
Obviously, some of us will feel unwell and these tasks may not be appropriate but a good book or some films/boxset will hopefully still be enjoyable and manageable.
Having a breathing technique in your toolkit can be handy to pull out if you were to ever need it. The NHS explains a nice simple technique on their website. Practice it at home at times when you are not in need and then you will have it up your sleeve to pull out if you ever felt anxiety creeping in.
MindfulnessA concept that can be very beneficial for mental health. It takes practice to develop the skill to be mindful. There’s a lot of information online if you wished to dive deeper!
HERE is the NHS guidance.
“It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much. Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing.”
In summary, mindfulness is about noticing what is actually happening right now. Fully immersing yourself in the moment and noticing all aspects of it. We have busy lives. We walk through the park, checking our email on our phone, thinking about what we need from the shops and what to cook the little ones for tea. Our minds never stop, but they need to! They need a break! Next time you take your daily exercise, immerse yourself in the present. Notice the sights, sounds and smells. The birds chirping, the leaves rustling, the squirrel running up the tree. Feel the breeze on your cheeks and smell the fresh air. Children are much better at being mindful. Younger children won’t be worrying about the mortgage or the library book that needs returning. They will be focused on the big puddle in front of them and the fantastic splashing sound it will make when they jump into it!
If you’re new to mindfulness, take small steps. Try a few minutes at a time. Immerse your in an experience, anything! Brushing your teeth, having a shower, playing with the children and absorb every sensory opportunity from that experience. Your mental health will thank you for it and you will create special, longer-lasting memories along the way.
Ask your family or friends for help and support. See the NHS WEBSITE for a list of mental health helplines, help is always there if you need it.
Taken from @thehappynewspaper. A great escape from the doom and gloom news, happy stories and smiles:
