It?s always been important to look after our own mental health, but now more than ever we need to ensure we?re staying as healthy as possible to get us through the Coronavirus crisis.
When it comes to looking after your mental wellbeing it is important to know that different things work for different people and that you shouldn?t be discouraged if something doesn?t work for you. That being said, here are 5 ways in which you can look after your mental wellbeing in this time of uncertainty.
Take Time Out
Taking time out is just as important as keeping busy when you are looking after your mental wellbeing. Not only does it allow you to feel calmer and to focus on the now, but it can also help you to change your perspective.
When it feels like things are getting a little bit much, find a quiet space and get away from it all for 10-15mins. If you can, try and go outside to breathe in the fresh air and focus on the sounds around you. If you have no outside space, find a quiet room and listen to some relaxing music or an audiobook. Switch off from social media, TV and any other distractions and be in the moment.
Be Creative
When you do something creative, such as knitting, painting, writing poetry or even a puzzle, it can help you to focus on the activity at hand allowing your brain to switch off and stop thinking about negative or worrying things.
You can even make this something that your friend can get involved in. For example, there is a social media trend going around in which you #GetYourMugsOut and draw a face on it and then tag someone else for them to do the same. Something simple like this takes a few minutes but can be fun and helps you to connect with others.
Keep in Contact
Keeping in contact with your family and friends is vital when it comes to looking after your mental wellbeing. You can do this by giving them a phone or video call, sending them a message or even jumping into a group chat. In this time where we are self isolating keeping in touch with people is so important.
If you want to use the time to make new friends or contacts, why not join an online forum or social media group to talk about your hobbies? It?s a great way to find people with similar interests, such as cooking, DIY or books, giving you lots of things to talk and chat about. *
Learn a Language
Learning a new language is a great way to improve your mental wellbeing, it helps keep your brain active, can be a real confidence boost and could give you something to look forward to if you decide to test your new found skills on a future holiday!
There?s a ton of websites and apps available online which are free to use including Duolingo, BBC Languages or you could order a new language book or CD from Amazon and get it delivered to your home.
Try to stay positive
Trying to stay positive sounds a lot easier than it is but there are things that we can all do to make it a little easier. Here are some practical ways that I have found useful.
Write inspirational truths on pieces of paper, such as ?I am amazing?, ?Today will be a good day?, ?I am stronger then you think?, ?I can do all things? , and stick them around your house. Seeing these things all the time will start to imbed them into your thinking and can help you when you are feeling down. The best place for me is to have them on mirrors, doors and even my computer screen.
Another way you can do this is by listening to music that is positive as what you listen to has a big impact on how you feel. This Spotify playlist is one of my favourites to help cheer me up! https://spoti.fi/2WGJXfv
*Chatting with people online is a great way to make new friends, but we always suggest you are careful and don?t give out any personal information like your address or telephone number to strangers online.
Blog by Reuben Wingfield
