Coronavirus: General wellbeing advice for staff
Being in such unprecedented times means that we are finding ourselves in situations we have not had to face before and it is important that we take time out to think about what we need to do to help maintain our health and wellbeing.
With many of us being asked to work from home, to self-isolate or having to take off to care for our dependents the time we are spending at home is increasing. This can impact on our health and general wellbeing.
At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour which in turn can make you feel worse. There are simple things you can do that may help, to stay mentally and physically active during this time such as:
- look for ideas of exercises you can do at home on the NHS website
- spend time doing things you enjoy – this might include reading, cooking, other indoor hobbies or listening to the radio or watching TV programmes
- try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water, exercise regularly, and try to avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs
- keep your windows open to let in fresh air, get some natural sunlight if you can, or get outside into the garden
- you can also go for a walk outdoors if you stay more than 2 metres from others.
To help you do this, we’ve brought together some advice and guidance on a range of helpful topics:
What steps can you take to stay connected with family and friends during this time?
Draw on support you might have through your friends, family and other networks during this time. Try to stay in touch with those around you over the phone, by post, or online.
Let people know how you would like to stay in touch and build that into your routine. This is also important in looking after your mental wellbeing and you may find it helpful to talk to them about how you are feeling.