Stay positive in 2021

If you’re worried about the impact of Covid-19 on your mental health, you are not alone. It is OK to feel scared, overwhelmed, upset or even angry at the new restrictions.

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We are all adjusting to the new way of life; the best way to handle our emotions and feelings is to focus on what we can control, and not what we can’t.

Whilst we are staying at home and helping to play our part in beating COVID-19, it’s vital to remember the importance of supporting our wellbeing.

We’re encouraging everyone to focus on the small steps to keep us going over the next few weeks and to help us stay positive in 2021. Here are some tips:

Relax

It’s normal to feel upset if your plans have had to change, don’t give yourself a hard time if you’re finding it difficult.

Sometimes something simple like controlled breathing can help us feel calmer. Here are some breathing techniques put together by the NHS > http://ow.ly/xcje50CRZH9

Use reliable sources to get your information

In these challenging times, people understandably want to keep up to date with the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic. Access to accurate, trustworthy and credible sources of news and information has never been more important.

To find out the most up to date restrictions follow updates on the GOV.uk website here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

If it’s all getting a bit too much then take a break from the news, you could always read a book or enjoy a new TV series.

Talk to someone you trust about your feelings

It is OK to share your worries with others, it might even help them too.

Talking about how we feel can be really supportive to our mental wellbeing and can help to reduce feelings of isolation.

Stay connected

Try to stay connected with friends, colleagues and family. Video calls are a great way to chat or play games. You can also speak to people online and via social media, email and texts.

If you are struggling to find stuff to talk about, here are some conversation starters:

  • If you could be anywhere in the world, where would you be?
  • If you had intro music, what song would it be?
  • If you could be an animal or insect, what would you be and why?
  • If you were on a dessert island and could take one film, what would it be?

Exercise

As tempting as it might be to stay in pyjamas all day, being active reduces stress, increases energy levels, can make us more alert and help us sleep better.

Every Mind Matters have some ideas to get you started with exercising at home.

Colette, Registered Manager at Kingshil, has put together a 30-minute exercise video that includes some gentle exercises for all abilities. You can watch it on our YouTube channel.

Learn a skill

Whilst jigsaw puzzles and video games can be a fun way to get through a few hours of the day, there are several other ways to pass your time.

Whether you have a skill you have always wanted to learn, or an old hobby you would like to pick back up again, now is the perfect time to keep yourself busy. Here are a few ideas:

  • Learn a new language
  • Learn how to bake
  • Learn how to sew

Three good things

Every week write down or make a mental note of three things that you are grateful for of things that are currently going well for you. These could be big things or little things but make them personal to you. Take a moment to reflect on these.

If you're struggling with your mental health during the coronavirus pandemic, we can help. Find services and support groups in your local area, here.



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