Looking after your mental health and wellbeing during a pandemic

Government guidelines are telling us to stay at home and only go outside for food, health reasons or essential work, and to stay two metres away from other people whilst out. Our business of delivering care to vulnerable people is classed as essential work. By continuing to provide vital services to people across England, we are able to take some of the strain from our healthcare system.

Working on the frontline is demanding, both physically and mentally and requires some form of downtime and self-care to counteract the effects some situations can have on us. For many of us, this downtime comes in the form of socialising with friends or family but due to new social distancing restrictions, we will be spending a lot of time at home and all of our usual social activities are no longer available to us. It’s ok to feel vulnerable and overwhelmed at the thought of this new way of life and it’s important to acknowledge these feelings and remind ourselves to look after both our physical and mental health.

Stay Connected

Whilst we all adjust to our new routines, we need to ensure we are taking care of our wellbeing. Human connection is really important and we can keep in touch with friends and family in other ways. Facetime, Whatsapp, Skype and telephone conversations can really help us to remain connected. Video chat platforms such as Zoom mean you can chat with large groups of friends or family.

Be positive

If we can, we should try to reframe our thoughts into being positive. If it’s possible, try to think of this time as an opportunity to get something done. It might be reading a book, doing the ironing we’ve been putting off, drawing or catching up on something. Try to get into a positive mind frame and remember this is only for a set time period.

Routine

If you’re not sick, do your best to keep a sense of normality as much as possible. Even if you’re not going anywhere, it’s a really good idea to still get up and dressed as you would usually. Have breakfast, lunch and dinner at your usual time too.

Diet & Hydration

Your diet may change if your routine changes or if you are suddenly less active. Eating regularly keeps our blood sugar levels stable and can help maintain our mood and energy levels. Make sure you’re drinking enough water, it is important for our mental and physical health.

Self-Care & Exercise

As per the government guidelines, we’re all allowed out to exercise once per day. Make the most of this time and get outside for a walk or jog. Now that the evenings are getting longer, there is more opportunity for a picturesque sunset stroll.  

Mental agility

Keeping our brains active and engaged helps us feel more productive, positive and ultimately, less bored. Try learning a new language, completing a puzzle or do some Sudoku. Future Learn and Open Learn have free online courses you could try! You could even enhance your skills with our online learning courses.

If you are one of our frontline workers, make sure you prioritise taking time for yourself when you’re not working. If you live with a frontline worker, be sure to give them the space they need to de-stress and unwind after a long shift. These next few months will be taxing and ensuring we prioritise our own wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of those around us, is paramount to getting through this together – after all, we are Better together.

To join our team and help the fight against coronavirus, register now. The UK is in desperate need of care staff to help support our healthcare system. If you are looking for work or just wanting to help where you can, please register. Experience isn’t necessary for some roles and you will be given training to fully equip you.