AD| We are living in uncertain times, because of the outbreak of coronavirus. There has been an increase in poor mental health and anxiety across the globe. There are steps in the place to enforce local lockdowns, and restrictions are still in place. We have witnessed empty shelves, food, and essential shortages, and we are all living with uncertainty about our future and the ‘new normal’. It’s normal to feel stressed, worried, anxious and fed up, but whereas possible, you need to try to remain positive and take the right steps to look after your wellbeing. For different people, that will mean different things, but here are four ways you can look after your wellbeing.
These tips are all things you can do in your own home, so they’re relevant whether you’re in local lockdown, just trying to be safe, or slowly adjusting to being back in the outside world.
Ways You Can Look After Your Wellbeing
Stick To A Routine
When your world is a little out of whack, it can take a while to get used to a brand new routine. Don’t compare yourself to other people though, try to stick to your routine as much as possible. Get up, get dressed, and carry on your day as normal as possible. Even if it means working from home instead of the office. Create a plan and ensure you try to keep a little bit of normality to your life at the moment.
Keep Up With Your Healthy Lifestyle
This time has certainly been challenging, whether you have spent more time with the people you live with or live alone. You need to ensure you eat well, drink plenty of water, and make sure you take supplements correctly by using tools like a CBD dosage calculator. Try to add variety into your diet, and if you can plan ahead. This means you will be able to limit the number of times you need to be in the supermarkets.
Suggested Post: How I Meal Plan
Watch Your Sleep
It is essential for you to *try to* get the right amount of sleep. I say try to because I’m a notoriously bad sleeper. If you’re not someone who can get eight hours, you should try to focus on getting quality sleep. Try to be regular with your sleep as it will help with a routine. Do what you can to make your bedroom a sleep friendly zone. It should be welcoming and well ventilated, try to keep it a temperature that you’re comfortable with. For me, that means a million extra blankets. Try to stay away from technology like phones and televisions before bed, I know that’s hard in the way we live. If that’s not something you think is possible, try adding a blue light filter app on your phone. If you need to wake up at a certain time, make sure you set an alarm.
Exercising
It’s important for you to still get outside, its good for your mental health and your immune system. If you don’t have a garden that you can use, make sure you make an effort to open your blinds and windows, and then try to exercise at home. Or do an outdoor exercise like cycling or running. Dance to music, move more when you are cleaning, have a look at online workouts, just keep yourself moving. It will keep you healthy and positive.
If you’re working from home and not going out much, you may find yourself getting lethargic and achy. Moving your body will help with thins like this, not to mention that serotonin boost.
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and for your emotions to run wild and erratic in times like these. One day you may feel completely normal but the next you may find the ‘new normal’ a little stressful. Remembering that these difficult times will pass is one way to help yourself get through this.
How are you looking after your mental health through this time? Please share some of your stories int he comments below.
Until next time,
Sophie
Great post! I’ve found having a routine really helped me, going for a walk each day even when I’m working from home, to get some fresh air and add a little ‘normality’ to my day. I’ve also found colouring or crafting in the evenings is really good for my mental health
Emily M
http://www.princessemilym.wordpress.com
The one thing I’ve been loving lately is my sleep which I guess is a good thing but I’m definitely slacking when it comes to exercise, I dread doing it but after I’m done I always feel better, I need to keep it going! X
Since March, I’ve gotten out of my routine and I can really feel it. When I switch into survival mode, I always neglect these 4 things. In actuality, they are the things I should be focused on. Thank you for the important reminder that I need to get back to the things that support my physical and emotional health.
These are good tips! I’m trying to be better with reading before bed so that I’m away from screens. I don’t always manage an hour, as I often have a lot of stuff to do when the kids are in bed and it’s my uninterrupted computer time, but I try get at least 30 minutes of reading a book away form screens before I go to sleep 🙂
Hope that you are having a great weekend 🙂
A really great post Sophie. I will be the first to admit that the lockdown and everything currently happening has certainly thrown me out of sync. So far I’m still trying to work out some sort of working routine and actually taking breaks. I’m trying to start exercising again and eating healthily once more – we’ve just started meal planning and definitely noticing an improvement. I still think even though we been in this situation for six months, I’m still trying to find my footing but need to take small steps towards finding a good routine for me.
Keeping yourself active/taking time to move more is such an important part of taking care of yourself! I’m a ‘dance around the house’ kind of person (especially when I’m cleaning) and it never fails to put me in a good mood 🙂
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
I’ve been working out a lot lately and it really helps my mental health!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
I love selfcare articles – it’s always a great reminder to me to take care of myself
These are great ways to look after your wellbeing Sophie! I exercise most days of the week (for health reasons) but one thing I do need to work on is the amount of sleep I’m getting, I need to have earlier nights, especially during the midweek! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
This is a great post! Lately I haven’t been getting enough sleep, so I’ve been making a conscious effort to go to bed earlier & it has helped! Also, during the week I take my daughter to kindergarten on my bike, which is a good exercise!
It’s a difficult time, no one can say the opposite. I’m trying to stick to a routine and a healthy lifestyle too. I’m working out much more and I don’t start to overcook hahah at least we will be healthy at the end of the difficult time. But stress and anxiety are difficult to manage sometimes!
xx Dasynka
http://dasynka.com
Sleep is one that I need to work on the most as my routine gets really bad when my mental health isnt great! I also found exercising always made me feel so much better x
I think you’ve condensed covid advice down to four important points. I’d add that taking on a project, even if it’s a simple one, like cleaning out a cabinet, helps give one a sense of purpose and satisfaction, too.
Thank you for the reminders!
Amazing post, it’s so important to look after yourself! I’ve decided lately to get back on my diet and exercise regularly and I can’t tell you how much better I started feeling!
xoxo Olivia | http://www.oliviaandbeauty.com/
Great post! Exercise and doing what I love is key for me. I’m a creature of habit and love maintaining a routine.
Thank you for sharing, such a great post!
With everything that is going on, it is easy to let things slip. Thank you for the great tips!
Great tips. Honestly, my biggest struggle has always been getting enough sleep – I need that reminder more than I care to admit! I have a tendency to stay up super late and then set the alarm to get up and get moving earlier to get my work done lol! It’s something that I have been working on during the quarantine period.
Sleep and exercise literally make the world of difference for me, oh my goodness. If I’ve got those two nailed down, then the rest of my routine falls right into place, and that already has me at 3/4 on this checklist! Can’t stress enough how those two help me so much. You nailed it with these four points!
This is a great condensed list of suggestions to help people stay sane during these times. I’ve been really bad at sleep and routine, personally, but I’m planning to work on it. Thanks for writing it up!
Such a great post, thanks for sharing! Happy Monday xo Nina
good post and never too much of a reminder for self-care. it’s so important and so easily forgotten these days. thanks babe.
Ana C., xoxo
http://www.adreamersland.com
facebook.com/adreamersland
This is such a good post!
All of these points are so important and can make a dramatic difference to your wellbeing so it’s really important to work on yourself as often as you can ☺️
Love Lozza x
http://girlygabble.com
It’s so easy for me to neglect my self care routines and general aid to my wellbeing with covid and my job taking turns upping the ante on my stress factor haha, but it’s really important to remember that your well-being should be your top priority and doing these things can definitely help calm the inner storm going on from all the external stress surrounding us. Thank you for sharing!
Going out for regular walks on my lunch breaks has really helped! I have been working from home since March and will be until at least January so outdoor time is definitely needed. I have just signed back up to the gym too, to motivate me to get in shape! I loved this post!
Oh I love this. A few weeks ago I was really struggling with it all but definitely trying to make an effort to sort my sleep routine out and starting to get some more exercise which is helping. These are some great tips – thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing a timely topic! I find exercising makes a huge difference in my overall mood, even if it’s a ten-minute activity. It’s so important to stay physically active because it releases stress and helps you recharge mentally.
Natonya | https://JustNatonya.wordpress.com
Amazing post! Thank you so much for sharing this! It is so useful at the moment and I definitely agree with your ways.
I really want to do more exercise since I don’t know if walking is doing much! It’s just trying to find which exercise will suit me!
Daisy xoxo |
These are great ways to looka fter your mental well-being! I’ve found doing something to occupy my mind, like getting creative really helps…and it passes time when we can’t do the usual things we are used to, like meeting up with family and friends etc.
I definitely need to get back on track with exercising, but its hard now the weather is getting cooler and days shorter…just want to cuddle up in blankets watching Netflix haha!
Thanks for sharing!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Its definitely been a very strange year and so many things have had to become the new normal. I am actually quite used to working from home now.. and I’ll admit I still have many days where I don’t get out of my pjs until lunch time haha. Although I do find getting dressed at the start of the day super helpful with keeping me motivated with work. I have been really enjoying doing exercise as well, I started working from home from March and so I thought as I was now missing out on my walking commute to work that I need to keep up with some exercise – so now I work out every day after work and I love it! xx
This is such a great reminder. It’s amazing how much better I feel if I consistently do all 4 of these daily!
These are some great tips! It’s definitely important to watch your mental health during tough times like these, but I have found that sticking to a routine and giving yourself something to look forward to every week definitely helps keep the grumpies away!
These are so important! I think especially when we’re stressed, we can forget about taking care of our bodies but that’ll only add to the problems. Great tips!