Whether you are self-isolating or on lockdown, we will all be spending a lot more time at home over the coming months. But there are plenty of things we can do to make sure we feel healthy in both our bodies and our minds.
Establishing a routine around your time and responsibilities can help to stop you from feeling overwhelmed. This includes going to sleep at a reasonable time each night (ideally before midnight) so that you can wake up at roughly the same time each day.
Pay attention to your diet, ensuring that you are eating regular, balanced meals. This can help you to avoid feeling tired, irritable or low. Don’t overwhelm yourself with feelings of guilt for the occasional convenience meal, see it as a treat and swiftly move on by planning ahead for other healthy meals. By aiming to eat at your normal times throughout the day this allows for a normal sense of structure that can help to reduce anxiety and stress. It is recommended that you should choose foods that give a slow release of energy such as wholegrain pasta/ rice, oats, nuts and seeds. It is very important to stay hydrated, you can ensure this by drinking 2 litres/ 8 glasses of water a day. Try to limit caffeine where possible, as this can increase feelings of anxiety.
We should also consider our physical and mental health. Try to move as much as possible as physical activity benefits our immune system and our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. There are plenty of ways we can stay active whilst at home including our Virtual Wellbeing hub or Sport England’s #StayInWorkOut campaign. Although self-isolation measures are needed, we must continue to exercise our bodies and mind to encourage normal mobility, prevent weight gain and to keep our spirits high during these challenging times. It can be a very anxious time for us all, so a big priority is to stay connected to friends, family and local support groups via phone, social media or email. Check in with your loved ones and also check in with yourself, let people around you know how you are feeling because you are not alone.
View activities you can do and our schedule of Facebook Live Activities at: https://theaws.co.uk/activities/virtual-wellbeing/
Find out more about our Befriending service at https://theaws.co.uk/friend/
