The 5 ways to take care of your mental health during coronavirus lockdown
THE coronavirus pandemic is nothing anyone has ever encountered before - so it’s no wonder that a lot of us are struggling with our mental health as a result.
With the new lockdown measures in place and many people self-isolating, the outbreak is affecting the way many of us live our lives - triggering stress, depression and anxiety.
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He told The Sun: "Coronavirus is here, and it looks likely it’ll be part of our daily life for a little while to come.
"Because of all the uncertainty it can be easy to feel out of control, which is why it is more important than ever to look after your mental and physical health and of those around you."
The Sun recently launched the You're Not Alone campaign to remind anyone facing a tough time, grappling with mental illness or feeling like there's nowhere left to turn, that there is hope.
Here, Simon takes us through his practical tips to help to get you through these challenging times...
1. Stay connected
Make sure you stay connected to your mates as best as you can.
Even if you’re stuck at home, in our interconnected world there are loads of ways to chat to your friends and family, without seeing them IRL.
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If it helps check the news and decide on specific times you’re going to do it (9am and 5pm, for example).
Simon says: "There’s also a LOT of misinformation out there so stick to trusted sources.
"And try and share the positive stories you see: of people who have recovered or even a post on Twitter that made you laugh."
3. Keep up your daily routine
Strike a balance between having a routine and making sure each day has some variety.
It can be hard to begin to accept this new normal.
If you’re finding the change difficult, it might help to build yourself a new routine – getting up, eating and doing familiar things at set times can help you to feel a little more in control of the situation.
But also change it up a little. Learn simple daily physical exercises you can perform at home.
Keep a To-Do list so you can see you’re achieving something.
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Go for a run. Skype your mates. Even doing mundane things like cleaning the oven can help.
All of it will help to keep you active and reduce boredom (apart from the oven thing).
Simon says: “Running, cycling and walking are all still options on the table (even if events you’d planned for might not be), and then there’s loads of online workouts to explore at home.
"From yoga to Hiit, and extreme beginner to expert, getting your blood pumping is a great way to get out of your head.”
4. Let out your feelings
Having that realisation that you’re feeling overwhelmed or annoyed at trivial things? Totally normal.
Finding it tricky to adjust to an unfamiliar way of living? Yep, normal.
Letting family or friends know you’re finding times tough? Well, that should be normal too.
In fact it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed or upset about a lot of this.
Simon says: "Getting it out is the best policy – whether that’s needing a bit of space or unloading your feelings. Social distancing doesn’t mean emotional distancing."
5. Talk to CALM
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide through vital, life-saving support and collective action.
If things are getting on top of you, call CALM on 0800 58 58 58 or through their webchat.
Their trained support workers are available from 5pm to midnight every day to provide practical support and advice, whatever you’re going through.
To find out more you can visit the CALM website .