Mental wellbeing tips at home

We can better manage our anxieties throughout the following tips:
 

• Take deep breathing. Here is a simple breathing exercise from the NHS website.

• Do not keep re-reading the symptoms of the virus if this keeps you overthink about it.
• Plan activities to do on a daily basis. For example, go for a stroll respecting social distances, clean your room, dance to music, start an online exercise workout, etc.
• Be mindful and aware of your thoughts and feelings to improve your mental wellbeing. Here is a link towards a NHS mood self-assessment.
• Stay connected to your friends, family, and beloved ones throughout facetime, skype, phone calls, texting, etc.
• You might feel anxious and stressed about the overwhelming need to wash your hands several times a day to protect yourself. Thus, plan something after washing your hands for the recommended 20 seconds to change and distract your focus.
   

Studying and working tips from home
 

• Create a workplace, making sure it is not your bed.
• Make a routine by planning a specific time ahead to start and to finish working or studying.
• Make a to-do-list and prioritise your workload.
• Remember to take breaks for lunch, moving around, getting some fresh air.
• Stay connected with your team/teacher and keep them in the loop.
• Switch off at the end of the day by shutting down your computer, closing your books, and relax.
   

Looking after health tips at home
 

• Think about your diet and eat regularly to keep your blood sugar steady. And therefore, this will adjust your mood and energy level.
• Keep yourself hydrated. It is recommended that you drink between 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day. Check out the NHS website for further information about water, drinks, and your health.
• Reduce your caffeine intake that may make you feel anxious and depressed. If you drink tea, coffee, chocolate, cola, and other manufactured energy drinks, try to switch to decaffeinated versions. 
• Consume at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to keep you physically and mentally healthy. Here is a link for more information on how to get your 5 a day on the NHS website.
• Get enough protein such as lean meat, fish, eggs, cheese, legumes (including peas, beans, and lentils), soya products, nuts and seeds. Protein makes up the chemicals your brain needs to regulate your feelings and thoughts.
• Try to avoid trans fats or partially hydrogenated oil that may exist in shop-bought cakes and biscuits. This kind of fat is not good for your physical health. Instead eat the right fats such as oily fish, poultry, nuts (especially walnuts and almonds), sunflower oils and olive, pumpkin seeds, avocados, and milk.
• Look after your gut by eating fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, beans, pulses, live yoghurt and other probiotics.
• Check out BBC Goodfood’s healthy recipes.

Written by Sara Galy, Content Writer at Strath Union.