Maintaining your wellbeing should be a top priority at all times, but it is often pushed to one side as other parts of life, such as work and family commitments, take charge.
Now, in times of such drastic change and uncertainty, maintaining our wellbeing is more important than ever – it is essential not only to help us cope with the current circumstances but to help us thrive in our personal and professional lives in the future. This article will look at some techniques that are useful in helping to maintain your wellbeing during this period of isolation.
Remain in a routine
If you are lucky enough to be able to have some downtime at the moment, it may be helpful to try and get back into a routine when you feel ready to do so. This will help you to make the most of your time. Many of us are used to a steady routine, and whilst it is healthy to have a break from this, it can be unsettling to be without it for a long period of time, and this can have a negative effect on our mental health. Your new routine doesn’t have to be strict, and it can be filled with a mixture of things that you need and want to get done during the week. I set my alarm to go off at the same time every morning during the week, as I tend to spend the day feeling groggy and tired if I allow myself to lie in until late morning every day. To help structure my day, I set time aside for exercise, reading, lunch, study, CPD, and dinner. Then I relax in the evenings. Everyone is different, and this may not suit your lifestyle and goals, but it can be a good start to make a list of things that you have been putting off and would like to get done during this time.
Exercise
You may not consider yourself to be an active person, but it is highly likely that at the moment you are less active than you have been previously. Some form of light exercise daily can help to replace what you are currently missing, and it will have the added benefit of boosting your mood with ‘endorphins’, which make you feel happy and can put you in a more positive mindset. Light exercise can be as simple as a daily walk, or some yoga or pilates. If you are usually more active, there are plenty of home workouts available online with no equipment needed. If you have a step tracker, it could be useful to set realistic step targets each day. This could help to keep you motivated – but try not to beat yourself up if you cannot reach your targets every single day.
Diet
Long periods of time at home can increase our temptation to snack and to opt for unhealthy foods. In the long term, these are likely to make us bloated and lacking in energy, and they can lower our mood. Try to stick to your usual diet as much as possible, with three balanced meals per day and healthy snacks where possible. Everything in moderation is recommended, so don’t be too hard on yourself – and of course, occasional treats are fine! Alcohol consumption may have a tendency to increase during this time, so try to aim for at least two or three alcohol-free days per week. Try to pour your own drinks where possible to remain accountable for how much you are consuming.
Meditation
Meditation can seem daunting if it is something you have never done before, but all it requires is five or ten minutes a day to focus your mind away from your concerns and be present in the moment. If this is completely new to you or is something you struggle with, there are plenty of apps available to guide you through the process, or you can find free guided meditation sessions online. Meditation has been proven to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety and to enable you to feel more focused and productive throughout the day. As recent weeks have been particularly stressful, I am aiming to complete ten minutes of guided meditation every morning to help put me in a good frame of mind for the rest of the day, and so far, it is really helping. Yoga can also include elements of mindfulness and meditation if you are not keen on guided meditation.
Personal development
The first thing that comes to mind when we think of personal development is CPD and working on our PDPs. This would definitely be a good use of time at the moment, especially as there is a lot of free CPD on offer online. However, personal development can include many different things. Personal development may include learning a new skill or starting a new hobby, reading a self-help book, or working on your fitness or flexibility – anything that you think will help you in the long term.
And finally
I think it is really important to remember that under no circumstances should you feel as though you have to be positive and productive all the time. These are uncertain times for us all, and it is perfectly normal to feel confused, worried and anxious about the current circumstances and the future. It is important to be kind to yourself and allow yourself time to adjust to your new routine, and even to feel a bit low sometimes. Some days you may feel like doing absolutely nothing, and that is okay. Sometimes you need a few days of stillness to recharge before you will feel your normal self again.
During these times, I strongly recommend reaching out to friends and family where possible. Limit your time on social media if this is giving you negative feelings, and certainly limit your time watching the news if this is making you feel anxious. Reaching out to groups and associations that are supporting your profession can help to answer some questions you may have, but try to limit your time on anything that feels too negative or is not helpful to you.