Any change to a routine can be challenging, and it is important we all take care of our own mental health and wellbeing during this time.

You may have been on one of our wellbeing workshops, but if not, here are the five-ways to wellbeing that we as a charity advocate

1. 1. Take notice – be in the present, take note of things around you.
2. 2. Be active – being more active, enjoying the outdoors and having a healthy, balanced diet can improve how we feel.
3. 3. Connect – social relationships are key to promoting good wellbeing.
4. 4. Keep learning – do something for yourself and take time to learn something new.
5. 5. Give – giving makes us feel good. This could be as simple as saying thank you.

It might not feel like the right time to be thinking of these things, but it is crucial for your wellbeing. Our wellbeing page provides detailed information on the five ways to wellbeing, and information on changes you can make to improve your mental health. It may be a little tricky to achieve some of these things whilst self-isolating, so we have created a few helpful tips below.

Tips whilst self-isolating

1. Take notice

Whilst self-isolating it will be important still to try to get outside into the sunlight and fresh air. Nature and connecting to it can benefit both our mental and physical health. It is particularly important if you are feeling stressed and anxious. If you have a garden it’s a perfect time to use it. If you can’t get outside, why not bring nature in. Open windows and doors, sit near a window, have plants and flowers inside. If you are limited on space, you could use other means, such as listening to nature sounds.

2. Be active

It may feel hard to be active if you are stuck indoors, however it’s important to try to get some form of exercise each day. You could exercise at home, using fitness apps or online fitness videos. You could simply make sure you get up and walk about or carry out some seated exercises. There are also other ways to be active such as cleaning or decorating.

3. Connect

This may seem hard when self-isolating at home but using technology can help. Use video chat to replace face-to-face contact and make a special effort to perhaps reach out to people you haven’t seen in a while. You may want to set up a chat group to keep connected to family and friends.

4. Keep learning

This may be a perfect time to learn something new – a new hobby, craft, language or recipe! Set aside time in your routine to read books, magazines and articles. Listen to podcasts, watch films and do puzzles. There are also many free online courses and apps that help with learning.

5. Give

It may feel hard to give whilst self-isolating, but thanking those around you, sharing useful tips with family and friends etc may really help. You can also support the charity by sharing our communications with others who may be unaware of the services available.

Other tips that could help improve your wellbeing whilst self-isolating:

• Plan how you’ll spend your time and create a routine – plan in activities linked to the five ways to wellbeing. Use your time to do things you may have wanted to do for a while such as have a clear out or tidy, both of your possessions and perhaps digitally? Do some life admin, do things you enjoy.
• Get a good night’s sleep – if you struggle with sleep perhaps look at your routine and how you wind down before you go to bed. Check out our page on sleep for tips.
• Reframe unhelpful thoughts – the way we think, feel and behave are linked. Reframing how we think about things can help how we feel.
• Try to stay relaxed – refer to our page on mindfulness for information on useful exercises and apps.
• Focus on your health – cutting down on alcohol and caffeine can have a positive effect on our wellbeing and can also improve sleep. We have a great page you can access on healthy eating.