Looking after your mental health | Covid-19 edition
October 14th, 2020
COVID-19 has changed our daily lives. It’s important to look after our wellbeing and the wellbeing of our whānau and community as we get through this – together.
It’s a tense time for most of us. COVID-19 is scary, and it’s rapidly changing the way we work, socialise, travel, access healthcare, exercise, shop and live. We know many people are feeling anxious, stressed, worried and scared.
If you need help now, you can free call or text the Mental Health Foundation NZ on 1737 at any time to speak with a trained counsellor – it’s free and confidential.
We know that things are really tough right now for some people who live with mental illness.
Stress and anxiety can make things worse. While we don’t have all the answers, below are some wellbeing tips below are designed to work for you however you’re feeling right now.
Find ways to connect
Connecting with others is so important for our wellbeing and helps to make us feel safer, less stressed and less anxious. We can support each other to get through this.
Find ways to be active
We know this is a tricky one if the alert levels change but there are lots of options to stay active at home, and it really helps! Play with the kids, do a yoga class online, try out a new workout on YouTube, go for walks or runs outside use the cans in the pantry as weights, stretch.
Find ways to give
Give compliments, think about a skill you have you could share with your whānau/flatmates/friends, share a favourite recipe, let people know you’re there to help.
Find ways to keep learning
Staying curious and engaging with the world around you is a great way to uplift your wellbeing.
Spend time with nature
Listen to nature sounds – birdsong is a lovely background noise while you work. Open the windows as often as you can. Take time every day to feel the sun or the wind or the rain on your skin.
Keep taking your medication
Don’t stop taking any of your regular medication without first talking with your doctor. Phone or email your GP to get any new prescriptions you may need. If you’re staying at home and that’s throwing off your routine, set reminders to take your medicine when you need to.