The Covid-19 pandemic presents different people with feelings of fear and anxiety while others are dealing with loss and grief.
Even with the Covid-19 vaccine being rolled out already, there is still a high level of uncertainty with increasing infections and deaths that have led to extended lock downs. Staying at home itself can take a huge toll on one’s mental health yet this is something that we must do to shield and protect our loved ones and other people from Coronavirus, most especially those who are medically most vulnerable.
While we must all remain vigilant and prevent the spread of Covid-19, there is so much we can do to safeguard our mental wellbeing as well.
Quick tips on looking after your mental wellbeing:
Avoid speculation: Avoid speculation as much as possible and check out only reliable sources for information about the pandemic. For instance, there is a lot of speculation about the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine, with many conspiracy theories making rounds. Credible sources like the NHS do come in handy.
Make a personal financial plan: If the pandemic has stretched your expenses, reduced your income or left you unsure about your job prospects, this uncertainty can take a toll on your mental health. Plan your finances, make sure you claim all benefits you are entitled to and get help with any debt concerns.
Stay connected with others: Please think of ways to stay in touch with family and friends. Staying in touch with the people you love can be good for your mental health. This could come down to something like a periodic phone call.
Talk about your worries: It is okay to feel a bit worried and helpless sometimes. Talking about your worries can be relieving so feel free to share your worries and concerns with someone that you trust.
Look after your body: Your physical health impacts how you feel. Try to exercise, eat healthy, have well balanced meals, and drink water regularly. Also try to avoid unhealthy behaviours like smoking, doing drugs and drinking too much alcohol.
Keep doing the things you enjoy: If you are feeling worried, anxious, lonely or low, it is possible to stop doing the things that you enjoy. Please don’t. try to keep doing the things that you enjoy, perhaps one of your hobbies.
Find time to relax: Relaxing can be good for your mental health. There are a number of relaxation techniques you can use. Please follow this link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mindfulness.
Get some good sleep: Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel, so it’s important to get enough. Try to maintain your regular sleeping pattern and stick to good sleep practices.
For a complete guide on safeguarding your Mental wellbeing while staying at home, the NHS has put together some really good resources on their ‘Every Mind Matters’ website here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-tips
Other resources:
