Your Mind Matters

These times of uncertainty can be overwhelming and we understand that it takes a toll. That’s why it’s so important to take the time to address feelings, concerns or worries however you see fit.

If you’re feeling as though you’re struggling, we urge you to contact Samaritans – they are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Or you can call 116 123 FREE from any phone. 

More of us will be spending a lot of time at home and many of our regular day-to-day routines will change once again. It’s important to envisage this as a unique chapter of our lives and not a bad one. So creating a new, fresh daily routine that prioritises looking after yourself can be the inspiration you didn’t know you needed. 

Citizen suggest the following… 

Get up

Waking up at the same time every week day, like you would do for work, just so you have some sort of normality in your routine. Get dressed, put on some make up, do your hair if you want to – do whatever feels best in that moment. But don’t feel guilty if there’s a day where you want to work in your PJs… we all do it.

Take regular breaks

If you’re the type to not take regular breaks, or find it hard to break away from your computer when the days are drawing to a close, then it may be worth time blocking. By using an online calendar, it will set immediate reminders to let you know when to stop work, start a specific task, put the dinner in the oven or to simply take a minute to stretch those legs.

Reward yourself

It may sound silly, but actually rewarding yourself after a day’s work or a home workout can be really beneficial and is a healthy addition to your routine. It could be a quiet moment reading a book, baking some sweet treats, taking a bubble bath, or just watching your favourite film or boxset (we’ll tell you our faves in a separate blog post soon). 

Keep in touch

Keeping in touch with your loved ones and colleagues can act as a huge relief during these times. Just having someone to talk to and letting them know you’re thinking of them works wonders. So pick up the phone and keep connected with those who are important to you. 

Sleep

Try and keep consistent with your bedtime schedule – we know every evening is different, but especially when you’re working from home, try and stick to your usual routine or even a little earlier. This will help you feel more refreshed and energised the next day. 

Get outside

Get outside if you can – going for a run, taking a walk – even if it’s for just half an hour, will make a healthy impact on your mental and physical wellbeing. Taking even a short walk has been proven to have a positive affect on your mood for up to seven hours afterwards.

Be kind

Practice random acts of kindness – think of something that you would love to recieve from a special person in your life. Is it a handwritten letter of appreciation? Buying a small, but thoughtful gift? Or even doing the food shop for an elderly neighbor. Anything that would put a smile on your face, would definitely do the same for them. Not only does it give that someone a boost of confidence and self worth, it will make you feel good in the process. It’s a win win really. Pay it forward.

Vision

Start a vision board with what you’d like to achieve in the future. This can be within the next weeks, months or even years. Having something to look forward to really helps during times like these.

We understand every person is different and people deal with difficult situations in their own way, but it’s important to recognise your feelings and ask yourself how you can turn it into a positive.