The 6 M’s - Looking after our Mental Health

[EmmaF91]

I (like many I’m sure) have started isolating and other than the whammy of it short term, looking into long term (as this is going to be 12+ weeks for most of us) I thought it would be share this advice from Nick Ruddock (a gymnastics coach but applicable to everyone)

1 MINDSET

Yes there is a lot of unknown atm, but don’t let it bring you down. Still smile, still laugh. Try and avoid overly looking at the news and social media, as fear feeds on fear. Use it, but in moderation. Don’t spend hours scrolling. Try and revert to how you accessed prior to this. The majority of us probs accessed the news twice a day, and were too busy to spend hours on FB with no interruption. Return to this. Create a routine and stick to it. It’s tempting to stay in bed because you can, stay in PJs because you can. DON’T. Get up, get dressed, have set times for things. Don’t binge watch 20hrs of Netflix in one day. A few hours a day is enough. Stay positive. You’re in isolation or are social distancing, you have reduced the risk to yourself and those you love. You’re doing your bit to flatten the curve so the NHS doesn’t get over run

2 MOVEMENT

Exercise. Everyday. Even if it’s just walking around your dining room table, even if it’s only a chair exercise routine. You’ll feel better, you’ll get less stiff and sore, it fills up some of the day. If you are isolating with another you can make it a group event. Challenge each other or with your friends. Start of doing what you can. Get up a YouTube exercise class and follow it. Don’t push yourself hard. But movement is always a winner.

3 MENTAL STIMULATION

A lot of us are unable to work from home and so the stimulation we get each day when we go off to work is missing. Boredom does not help, the lack of stimulation can make you depressed. Don’t binge on TV and films. Pick up that book you bought 3 years ago and STILL haven’t read. Got an activity you’ve always wanted to learn? YouTube will probs be able to teach it to you! Call people and TALK to them (a novel thing in this day and age 😉)

4 MINDFULNESS

If you aren’t already doing this, find an app that you like and use it. Take the time to check in with yourself, to take the space and just breathe. You and think and focus about the future and the plans you have. Right now life may have stopped, but that will not last forever. Eventually we will get out the other side. Focus on what you want to do, maybe after this you’ll have changed your priorities and aims, but have aims. Short and long term ones.

5 MANTRAS

Make up mantras to keep you positive. Remind yourself that you are not alone in this, something that makes you smile. Anything that keeps you thinking positive

6 MUSIC

Play music. Have fun, dance about. Music, as I’m sure you are aware, is emotive. Don’t sit there in silence. If you are working play some music in the background, if you’re cooking, dance along to it. Sing in the shower. Do whatever you’re happy to do. But let yourself get lost in it and have fun!

I know well all be approaching this from different directions. Some of us are alone, others with babies, kids, teens, some may have parents living with them. Everyone can do this, and hopefully our mental health won’t suffer too badly 🤞🏻

Think positive no matter how hard it is. We will get through this, and community spirit is already starting to show. I have so far had my boss, 4 work colleagues, a neighbour, 5 other friends and my family offer support in different ways. I know in my area offers of support are going round to anyone who has self isolated and made others aware of the fact!

Stay safe and we can do this!

[Wheezycat]

Also stay in contact with family and friends using whatever method you have! It helps to have a giggle with others.

[Hidden in reply to Wheezycat]

To coin the MONTE PYTON PROGRAM Always look on the bright side of life. Also do what I do when I am ILL I look for someone who looks worse than me and then I feel a lot better,[even though when I was in hospital the nurses would say how can you smile and laugh when you are poorly. My reply is that it is is easier to laugh and be glad than upset and a long face, there is always somebody worse of than you are.

[Meliko]

I'm making up a timetable with different things to do each week day, so that I can feel/notice time passing. e.g. in the mornings do any work that I have to do and maybe have that be when I email/write letters to people, but Monday afternoon might crochet, Tuesday afternoon might read etc etc

I was really hoping to make it to the end of this week before the isolating kicked in but as soon as I walked into work yesterday I got sent home and told to stop being silly

[asthmatim]

Yes we can.