Now that most of us are social distancing or self-isolating due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it is more important than ever to practice self-care and look after ourselves! Whilst this is a stressful time, there are a few things we can to to look after our physical and emotional needs. Not only can these self-care tips help us cope with isolation and stress now, but they can also help us feeling our best all year round. 

• Don't forget the basics - Eat regular meals, drink plenty of water, have regular showers, take regular breaks through the day and try to get enough sleep! 
  
  
• Maintain a routine - Try to get up and showered and dressed. Set an alarm if you know you will over sleep, force yourself to get up and do something - whether it's exercise, breakfast, university work, arts and crafts etc. Getting out of bed and out of your pajamas will help you avoid falling into a bad pattern. Maybe start your day off with a walk? A bit of fresh air might wake you up and get you set for the day. You can find guidelines on going out of the house here
  
  
• Practice mindfulness and breathing techniques -  Headspace is a meditation app that offers a wide range of different exercises to partake in. Find out more about how the app works here. 
  - What is Mindfulness
  - Meditation for Stress
  - Meditation for Anxiety 
  - Meditation on Focus 
  - Meditation for Sleep 
  - Meditation for Happiness
  - How to Relax
  - Sleep Music 
  - Tips for Sleeping
  - 10 Minute Meditation 
  
  
• Use the time to develop a new skill - Being at home all the time can become very monotonous, having some time by yourself could be the perfect time to try things that you may have put off wanting to do! Keep yourself busy and entertained You may wish to learn how to cook or try a new recipe, start an online course or even learn a language. 
  - Duolingo & Drops are great apps to help you learn the basics of a new language! 
  - Coursegate offers a variety of online courses at different levels, covering a wide range of subjects (they usually have discounts on so have a look before buying a course - currently they have 93% off courses as of 6/4/20, Code: CG93GIFT). This may help boost your CV, skills and knowledge whilst you are unable to gain experience due to isolation and closures of businesses. 
  

• Keep a diary / journal - Having a way to express your thoughts and feelings is so important, especially if you are self-isolating with little or no company. It is far too easy to be consumed by anxious thoughts and feelings of worry.  Putting thoughts and feelings onto paper can help you feel like you are taking back a little bit of control and uncertainty. Sometimes when people can see their own thoughts in a physical form, it feels less scary and becomes easier to not only address. 
  
  
• Tidy / Clean - For example de-clutter your bedroom. Whilst the pandemic may leave us feeling out of control, a great way to combat this is to focus on things you can control. "Tidy room, tidy mind" is used a lot in life, but it is said for a reason! This is the perfect opportunity to organise and de-clutter your living space. 
  
  
• Stay Connected - Phone calls are a good way to stay communicating with others but seeing someones face can really make a huge different to yourself and to others. It can lift everyone's mood and make you feel less lonely. There are lots of free video calling services you can use! 
  - House Party is a great app that you can use to call friends and family, either individually or in groups
  - Zoom is also a great way of staying connected 
  
  
• Start Indoor Exercising - If you want to get a bit of exercise from the comfort of your home, Joe Wicks, a fitness trainer, is uploading home workouts every day, which are all available on YouTube. Exercise releases chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that improve your mood. If you exercises regularly it can reduce your stress and symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. 
  
  

Please look at our VLE mental health support page for any top tips, information and contacts or email support@futureworks.ac.uk if you would like to speak to somebody about isolation, mental health or have any questions about the above.

Stay safe and look after yourself!

​