Self-care tips to protect mental health during self-isolation

If you have been following the guidance of the UK government, you will have been self-isolating for at least 12 days now. If you live alone, you may not have seen anyone that you are close to for what seems like an eternity. Whilst it is important to keep your fitness levels up (one of the reasons you are allowed to leave home is for one form of exercise a day) it is just as important to look after your mental health. Here are a few tips that may help.

KEEP IN CONTACT WITH LOVED ONES

First and foremost, remember it is normal to feel anxious, bored and frustrated. Use technology for the reason it was invented - to stay connected. Phone calls and video calls can do a huge amount to lift your spirits. Most services work well on wi-fi and don’t be shy about going on camera - your friends and family won’t care about seeing you looking rough and it will do your Mum a world of good to see that you are OK. As well as making yourself feel better, you could really brighten up someone else’s day.

Don’t feel bad about asking them to change the subject. Talk about what you are reading, which of the 18 movies you should watch while self-isolating that you still need to see and the such. With the news dominated by the same subject and work-life patterns disrupted so dramatically, its easy to feel that every aspect of your life is being taken over by Coronavirus. Play virtual Scrabble or Monopoly instead.

Reach out to those that you feel that you have lost contact with. They will no doubt be doing the same and seeking to reconnect with you. You may be surprised by how grateful they are to hear from you. Think about how good you would feel if you heard from them out of the blue.

RESTRICT NEWS INTAKE

The news is pretty terrifying at the moment. It is dangerous to become addictive to hourly updates. Try taking a break from the news and limit how often you check it. Avoid it before bed as taking these negative thoughts with you to sleep will impact it. There are a whole host of apps that help with breathing techniques and meditation that advocate that just 15 minutes a day can vastly improve your mindfulness and clear your mind of anxious thoughts. Yoga is a great way of trying to relax and help improve mobility and flexibility at the same time. If these don’t work for you, try something more creative - writing that novel that has been hidden inside of you for years, learning German, painting etc.

DEVELOP A ROUTINE

There is no doubt that routine as per normal has gone out of the window for many people. Avoid sleeping all day and not changing your clothes as this will just make the day feel like one long drag and it does not take much for days to turn into weeks. Plan your days and develop a new routine to give your day some structure. If you are a workout kind of guy (another great way to burn off stress and give you some sense of purpose) try and ensure that you work out at the same time each day, as you would if you were still going to the gym. You will be missing all of the day to day comforts that you are used to, like the coffee shop, your personal training session and the water cooler chat, so make new versions of these - learning a new language for ten minutes or reading a chapter of a book are just two examples of how to do this.

KEEP CALM

Cohabiting with others, be it a partner, family, children or housemates can be stressful at the best of times. Right now, it might feel impossible. Defuse tense situations by walking away from arguments, trying not to raise your voice and avoiding taking your frustrations out on others. Use the storm to go outside for your one walk a day. If things are better than all that, take advantage of the incredible array of theatres and galleries that are offering content online for free and sit down to watch a play together. Cooking brings people together - it can be tempted to lay on the couch and eat unbalanced diet, snacking all day. Do your best to eat well.

Lastly, and most importantly, if you are struggling, do not suffer in silence. Speak to your loved one. Call a friend or a helpline. Text or email if you are scared of being overheard by others in your home.