Emotional Health

 Looking After Your Emotional Health

Looking after your emotional health while staying at home is really important. Remember this situation won't last forever and if you are struggling, speak out and someone will be there to help.

Here are a few tips and ideas to keep emotionally healthy...

Everyone is different, Focus on you!

The government is telling us to stay at home and only go outside for food, health reasons or essential work. This will mean that a lot of us will be spending a lot of time at home.

Our regular social activities are no longer available to us and this may affect our mental health.

Everyone's mental health is different and how it can be affected can be different too.

This is out of our control, but we do have to comply in order to keep everybody safe. So, take this time to create a new daily routine that prioritises looking after yourself.

Try something new and set yourself a new challenge

• Learn a new language. There are lots of free apps that will teach you how to speak another language.
• Try some photography. Most of us have smart phones, now is a perfect time to capture nature without the usual disruptions of daily life!
• How about making your own quiz... We are holding regular quizzes on the Futures Instagram. Why not be our quiz master?!
• Try some gardening. 
• How about some creative writing?!
• Try some baking or trying new recipes. 
• Start your own podcast. 
• Try a new exercise... a high intensity online work out, running, yoga.  
• Painting.
• Drawing/colouring.
• Jigsaws, puzzles, word searches, crosswords. 

Set out a new daily routine, keep it simple and focused.

Allow time for relaxation and normality, just adapt to maintain social distancing.

The News

It is important to keep up to date with the news and any new information the government is providing us with. However, filling your day with this news may not be good for your mental health and may lead to increased anxiety.

It may be wise to:

• Limit yourself to watching or reading about the daily update of an evening given by reputable sources such as BBC News Gov.uk and Public Health England are also reputable sources that you can access.
• Avoid non-reputable sources such as social media posts, rumours and opinions by others.
• Accessing good quality information about Coronavirus can help make you feel more in control and reduce anxiety levels. 

Stay Connected

We are living in the 21st century with technology, social media and other means of connections such as gaming. These are all good ways of staying in touch with those who matter most to you.

• Social media: allowing video calls, group chats, seeing what others are doing with their days at home.
• Apps: Skype, WhatsApp and Messenger.
• Gaming: Connecting with others while gaming.

Online Support

Online services are available for you to access. These services offer guidance on how to help reduce anxiety levels, how to help lift your mood, giving you a sense of control and lead to a more positive mindset.

Mind

Information about how to keep yourself safe and how to tackle negative thoughts about the current situation.

Kooth

Online chat forums with mental health professionals. Online services offering teaching about good distraction techniques and coping methods.

Gov.uk

Online guidance setting out principles to follow to help people to manage their mental health.

Mental Health Foundation

Guidance full of suggestions on how to help tackle feelings of anxiety, low mood and top tips on how to stay connected with people.

Action For Happiness

Action for Happiness share an online calendar every month. Each day has an action that aims to support your emotional health!

Apps

Download apps that are related to helping with mental health: Mindfulness, meditation, Breethe, Aura, Jour. If you are a child in care or a care leaver you can get a one-year free subscription to Breethe through IMO. 

 Keeping Active

Exercising and keeping yourself active is a very good way to ensure you are maintaining your physical health as well as your mental health. Exercise releases chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that lead to an improved mood. Exercise can also reduce feelings of stress, depression and anxiety.

We have a specific section relating to physical activity with lots of ideas!

Remember....