Your essential toolkit for self-isolation well being

With millions of people across the globe currently in self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping our bodies and minds active and healthy has never been so important.

For the first week or so you might be all too happy to binge on your favourite Netflix show or get stuck into a few of those household tasks that you've been putting off since Christmas, but as the days begin to drag on and the weeks start to melt into each other, both mental and physical health can start to suffer.

To avoid your well being taking a battering while the world as we know it continues to struggle against the coronavirus, here are a few practical tips to keep it all together from home.

Use your time wisely

With the hours we used to dedicate to doing our jobs now thrown into disarray, having plenty of time to sit around doing absolutely nothing apart from constantly check the news is a fast track route to poor mental health.

Our work gives us purpose and adds to our sense of self, so when this is taken away (albeit temporarily), we can start to feel a little useless.

Instead of wasting these precious hours if you have been placed on furlough during this period of uncertainty, why not use them wisely to explore an interest or brush up on your skills?

The Open University is currently offering a plethora of free online courses on everything from business negotiation skills to beginner’s Chinese, so give your brain a workout and impress your colleague with your new skills when all of this is over. In addition to keeping your brain active and mind occupied, you could well discover a new interest or hidden talent.

Even if you haven’t been furloughed and are still working from home, you’ll still likely to have a little extra time on your hands so it’s worth checking in on a few courses or qualifications that you may want to study for in that freed up commute time.

Everything’s a gym

Keeping active is easy with a gym membership, but as that isn’t currently an option, you may find that you really start to miss your usual exercise routine. This will affect both your physical and emotional well being so it is worth finding an alternative.

I was amazed at the number of household items that can be utilised as part of a workout. From tinned food as weights to sacks of potatoes or rice for ramping up squats, it’s possible to transform everyday items into workout accessories if you don’t have much professorial equipment at home.

Additionally, there are tonnes of free trials on offer for services that will temporarily replace your regular gym routine or class for now, not to mention a whole library full of YouTube videos and workouts to work along to via social media. One that I personally love is https://www.fitnessblender.com/

Keep a routine in place

Humans love routine. Since we were children, many of us will admit to craving the safety and security that structure offers as part of our daily lives, so remove that routine and our mental health can start to spiral out of control.

Although the normal day to day activities that fill your week may have to change, keeping a routine during the self-isolation period is imperative.

Having a written and visible schedule that includes your exercise regime, your new hobby, booking in calls with friends and family and ensuring you take regular breaks to rest will help create a routine you can stick to.

If you still struggle to get up and get going or turn off the TV then arrange a morning video call with a colleague, friend or family member as this will motivate you to get up, have a shower to look presentable and then start your day.

#routine #mentalhealth #selfisolation #coronavirus #wellbeing