Since Lockdown began, it has impacted us in various shapes and forms. Money problems, unemployment, keeping the house in order at every given moment. We know isolation can affect our mental health, particularly as we can't be around our friends and loved ones. The team at QCS felt it was ideal to provide some advice and tips on ensuring your mental wellbeing is maintained during lockdown.
Exercise
We know that lockdown measures have caused gyms and leisure centres to close but try to exercise regularly. There are fitness platforms on Instagram and facebook that share workout routines and tips you can do from the comfort of your home. There are also live sessions you can follow online. The sunny weather is a great excuse for outdoor chores like gardening, clearing the front lawn or laundry and at the same time will help provide you with Vitamin D- another way to uplift your mood.
Eating well
With limitations to produce at the supermarkets, we know how tempting it is to order take-aways or eat ready meals. Although we are limited with fruit and veg to purchase, try to incorporate what you can into your diet, simple recipes requiring little time are available online. Jamie Oliver has released healthy recipes using basic ingredients you can access here. Aside from supermarkets, your local cash and carry or off licence ethnic stores may have more variety of products. Ensuring your diet is in top form will help your immune system in addition to your mental wellbeing.
Challenge yourself with an online course
Lockdown has left most of us bored at home with nothing to do. Resorting to Netflix, video games and social media isn’t always the best solution for our mental wellness. Use this moment to utilise new skills, challenge yourself! There are now many online courses free and accessible whether you want to learn the basics of starting a business or improve skills on social media or photoshop. This is great exercise for the brain and allows you to divert your focus on being productive.
Sites with free online courses
Maintaining regular contact
Having no social gatherings can be a pain and the lack of physical contact has left many of us feeling disconnected. Use this moment to call, skype, facetime friends and family. People are doing quizzes and challenges together through video-calling to lighten the mood. There are also local support groups on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with people happy to lend an ear during times of distress.
These are just some of the things you can do to provide yourself with balance and routine, please remember you’re not alone during this lockdown. For further information and support can be found on Mind who can direct local support services near you.
