Looking after your mental health
After having a primary focus on looking out for your physical wellbeing, we thought it was worth emphasising the importance of your mental wellbeing.
We have pulled together some tips and tricks that we find works best for us that we want to share with you.
You are what you eat
A healthy, balanced diet is important in maintaining a balanced state of wellbeing. It can improve your mood and give you more energy.
While there are many other sources info for a healthy diet, we find a few things help keep us both healthy and satisfied.
Stay Hydrated – drink plenty of water, this can really help your concentration levels.
Eat Fruit and Veg – Fruit can help with water retention and keep you hydrated!
Eat balanced – make sure you have a good mix of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Treat yourself – There is no need to completely cut out those less than healthy foods once in a while! Who doesn’t love a good burger or chocolate bar!
Stay Active
Along with eating well, it is important to maintain regular exercise.
This can provide stress relief, help with concentration, help you to sleep better and releases endorphins…the feel good chemical!
Physical activity can help to put a positive spin on your mood and can range from a quiet walk or yoga, to a run or competitive team sports. Find what works best for you and give it a go, you may find a new activity that you haven’t tried before.
Being active for only 30 minutes per day can help improve your mental wellbeing.
Limit your Alcohol
Avoid drinking alcohol every day. Though it may feel like it helps you relax and even fall asleep, the longer term stress on your body can lead to stress and fatigue. It can also disrupt your sleep.
The same goes for caffeine. Try and limit how much you have throughout the day and avoid too much near bed time, it can prevent you from falling asleep swell as disrupting your sleep patterns.
Take a Break
Its good to sometimes stop what you are doing and make time for yourself. Whether that is undertaking a favourite hobby or interest, or simply taking a walk for a change of scenery. Doing these things can help you reflect on things and help you process. We find this particularly helpful during stressful periods.
Some of our favourites include; listening to music, gardening, exercise and tidying up!
Mental Health During the COVID-19 Lockdown
During these new and challenging times it is important to ensure you are doing everything you can to look after your wellbeing. This includes both physical and mental health.
We have a collated a few tips that work for us in an attempt to make your lockdown-lives a little easier.
Connect with loved ones
Stay in contact with friends and family as much as you can. whether a quick phone call or a video group chat, there are plenty of options to stay in touch and have a chat.
Stay up to date
Try and only use official sources for the latest information on the Corona Virus. There is a lot of speculative and false information online, especially surrounding social media. Try and tune this out and stick to the facts. This should help reduce any anxiety or stress.
Keep a routine
Having a regular routine will help to keep you motivated. Ensure you stay active and keep up with a balanced diet, it is all to easy to over eat and snack while stuck at home for long periods.
Keeping up regular exercise once per day can help and is currently permitted during the lockdown period. Maybe embrace the change and find something you haven’t tried before, like an online exercise video or yoga.
Working from Home
A few tips to help you adjust to working from home, if you are able to.
Designate a place to work that is free from distractions – try and make this a place where you don’t normally relax. It is important to keep a divide between your new home work space and the sofa or bedroom, which will help you relax and sleep when you need to.
Get dressed – changing out of the comfy dressing gown will help you stay focused.
Set clear working hours – this will help avoid you working late into the night or going without a lunch.
Set daily goals – to maintain some structure and to keep organised.
Be social – make sure you keep up your normal social chats with work colleagues via phone or video call. You could always set up a quick chat while you both have a coffee!