5 ways to look after your wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic

This is a stressful time for everyone, and being told to stay inside, keep our distance from others, and limit our contact with the outside world can be scary. There’s a lot of uncertainty, which can lead to feelings of anxiety. It is really important that we do what we can to look after ourselves during this pandemic.

5 ways to look after your wellbeing during COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The five ways to wellbeing are a set of simple steps that have been proven to improve people’s mental wellbeing and help them feel better. This can be a useful tool for figuring out how to cope during this time of social distancing and isolation.

1. Connecting with others

When we’re being told to practice social distancing and stay away from others, it can be hard to feel connected. However, feeling connected to friends and family is a really important part of looking after our wellbeing. That’s why it’s so important to find other ways to keep in touch and spend time with people. Arrange video calls, share what you’re up to, watch movies at the same time, play video games online – whatever helps you to have fun with friends, try to make time for it.

Get some ideas for connecting with friends while staying at home.

2. Be active

Spending more time at home means we’re less likely to be moving around. However, exercise is important for both our physical and mental wellbeing. If you go outside, make sure to keep at least 2 metres away from other people. However, you don’t need to go outdoors to get exercise, and there is plenty we can do to stay active at home.

3. Notice how you’re feeling

Taking time to check in with how you’re feeling can help you to look after your wellbeing. Try to pay attention to whether or not you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or sad, and what makes you feel this way. Practicing mindfulness is a great way to stay in the moment. Check our articles on simple mindfulness exercises and grounding exercises for simple techniques you can try

4. Learn something new

With extra time on our hands, now is a great opportunity to learn something new. Try a new recipe, gain a new skill, ask someone in your house to show you how to do something – the sense of achievement from learning something makes us feel good and can give you more confidence.

5. Help others

This is a difficult time for many people, and there could be someone out there who could do with your help. This could mean sticking a note in the door of an elderly neighbour, offering to go to the shops, or making a phone call to someone who might be lonely. Helping others can make you feel good, and taking action is one way to tackle the anxiety that comes with times of uncertainty.

It’s important to be a friend to yourself during this time – you don’t have to do it all, but try your best to take at least one of these steps every day.