Five ways to wellbeing
Connect
Maintaining healthy relationships with people you trust is important for your mental wellbeing.
Think about how you can stay in touch with friends and family while you are at home – by phone, messaging, video calls or online – whether it’s people you usually see often or reconnecting with old friends or neighbours.
Keep learning
We are all going through this together so even when we’re not face-to-face, continue to keep in contact and look out for each other. Keep learning Create a new daily routine that prioritises looking after yourself. You could try reading more or watching movies, having an exercise routine, trying new relaxation techniques, or finding new knowledge on the internet. Try and rest and view this as a new if unusual experience that might have its benefits.
Give ideas for passing the time when you’re social distancing: share your favourite books, recipe ideas or make playlists for each other. Whatever you enjoy doing in your spare time, share it with each other.
Remember that you can access digital reading material online for free from Coventry Libraries. If you normally enjoy newspapers and magazines but are not able to visit shops, you can also access newspapers and magazines online for free via Press Reader.
You could also have a look at online courses, such as those available from the Open University and Future Learn.
Be active
Keeping up with your physical health is also important for your mental health:
- NHS Choices provides ideas with video links
- Change4Life - 10-minute shake up games to try out with kids
- Sport England - Join the Movement #stayinworkout
- Try out online yoga videos tailored to help with anxiety and tips on mindfulness.
- If you're home with children, there are yoga videos for them as well.
This is provided as information only. If you have a medical condition, you should continue to follow advice given by your health practitioner / GP.
Give
Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you. Think what activities you can do at home that might benefit others.
Take notice
Take notice of nature. Bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. It can improve your mood, reduce feelings of stress or anger and make you feel more relaxed. You could try the following:
- Spend time with the windows open to let in fresh air
- Spend time in your garden, if you have one
Take notice of yourself. There are lots of ways that you can relax. Take notice of the present moment and use your creative side.
