- Get your foundations right
- Eating well – healthy foods including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Stay hydrated – drink plenty of fluids.
- Take gentle exercise
- Getting outside for fresh air and sunlight
- Take regular breaks
- Develop a daily routine
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- Getting up at the same time
- Going to bed at the same time
- Eating at the similar times
- Schedule time for hobbies or other activities
- Schedule something every day that gives you either a feeling of Achievement, Connection to others or Enjoyment (ACE)
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- Watching a box set of your favourite show
- A skype call with a loved one
- Taking part in your favourite hobby
- Mindfulness / Meditation
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- Being in the present moment – there’s LOTS of online resources from YouTube, Apps, books
- Sitting quietly and use your senses
- notice what you can hear
- notice what you can see
- notice what you can smell
- notice what you can feel… your feet on the floor, the clothes against your skin, the sun on your face
- notice your breathing
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- Walking in your local area and trying to notice something new, something you’ve never seen before
- Yoga
- Gratitude
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- Every day, simply listing 3 things in your diary you are grateful for. As an example this could be:
- Good weather
- Achieving something today
iii. Talking to a friend
- Seeing loved ones
- Set personal goals or targets
- Is there something you always wanted to learn – a language, a dance move, knitting!
- Take care and be kind to yourself
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- Using the resources such as the NHS One You pages and apps: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/apps/
- Difficult thoughts and feelings will arrive. Acknowledge you are having these thoughts, feelings and this is very normal.
- Highly recommended is this video from Dr Russ Harris. FACE COVID video: https://youtu.be/BmvNCdpHUYM
- NHS One You – every Mind Matters : https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/your-mind-plan-quiz/
By Dr Emma Nicholas, Clinical Psychologist, Neuromindworks