It is safe to say that none of us expected the current situation to occur, let alone at the scale and gravity we are currently facing. There is no doubt the the dreaded ‘C’ word is affecting every single one of us, and presents us with uncertainty and many new stresses. So whilst we all are confined to our homes to protect each other, our families, communities and to aid the NHS, what can we do to make this situation easier for ourselves and adjust to a new ordinary?
Acknowledge and accept
We have to acknowledge what is happening in the world right now in order to help those dealing with this first hand and on the front line. Keep yourself informed, keep an eye out for regular updates, stay inside and look after your own and others health.
Keep news consumption within proportion
Finding a balance between staying informed and avoiding overloading on scare-mongering information is essential to keep a level head and our exposure to stress-inducing content to a minimum. That’s right – avoid the mindless news article/facebook post/online scrolling. Ten minutes of news updates twice a day should be enough to keep you informed whilst protecting your mental health.
Find structure to your day
Whether you are able to work remotely or not, try to find a way to reintroduce a normal structure and routine to your daily life. Use a diary, schedule in times to work, eat meals, exercise and rest in order to keep your routine as close to your typical working week as possible. Yes, that includes movies and a roast dinner on a Sunday if necessary.
Make the most of your time to exercise and outdoor allowance (if it is safe to do so)
Trying to include government exercise recommendations as part of your routine can be extremely beneficial to improve your state of mind and mental health during these difficult times. Whether this means practicing yoga, taking part in an online HIIT class, making the most of any equipment you may have at home, having a dance party in your living room or using your allotted outdoor time to run or walk, including exercise regularly will help keep you healthy physically and mentally, as well as help you to stick to a structured day. A few incredibly useful free online resources I would recommend include The Body Coach’s free live Youtube workouts, Yoga with Adriene on Youtube, Alice Liveing’s Instagram home workout ideas, or the Couch to 5k app.
Allow yourself to take time off
Call your family and friends, take up a new hobby, binge-watch a TV series, take up mindfulness (or any relaxation practice) – whatever you need to do to find some calm as best you can.
Feel what you feel
Don’t forget to acknowledge how you feel in all of this. It is okay to not be okay all of the time, to feel confused, uncertain or scared. You don’t need to have everything sorted and under control. But once you have acknowledged those feelings, don’t let them overwhelm you. You have got this, normality will resume again.
In the meantime, stay safe and healthy.
With all best wishes,
Abi x