This April is National Stress Awareness Month and there’s no better time to talk about how to relieve symptoms of stress than during an international pandemic.
The COVID-19 outbreak has changed life for all of us very quickly, so it’s understandable if you’re feeling worried, sad or anxious. But there are ways to help ease these feelings.
To help you, we’ve put together 5 tips for handling stress during the coronavirus pandemic. Try them for yourself and share them with your staff…
- Limit your news intake
If you find that you’re more stressed or worried after reading the news, then try to reduce the number of times you check it.
You shouldn’t block out the news completely, but it might be better for you to limit the time you spend reading articles on COVID-19 or watching news bulletins. It might be helpful to turn off any breaking-news alerts on your phone, too.
It’s also worth remembering that not all news is trustworthy. So try not to read information shared on social media and only stick to sources that are credible like GOV.UK or the NHS website.
- Speak to your nearest and dearest
When you’re feeling low or worried, talking to your family and friends can help to brighten your mood. If you can’t see them, just pick up the phone, arrange a video chat or drop them a text.
Now might also be a good time to reconnect with old friends or colleagues that you’ve lost contact with over the years—talking to someone that knows you can help to comfort you.
- Exercise at home
Although gyms are closed and social distancing rules are in place, you can still work out. There are loads of online classes that you can try from home including PE with Joe Wicks and Yoga with Adrienne.
Plus, as long as you’re fit and healthy, you can still leave your house once a day for exercise. You could go on a walk, run a 5K or ride your bike near your home. Just remember to keep a safe two-metre distance away from other people.
- Get enough sleep
A restful night’s sleep can make all the difference to your mood and experts advise getting around seven to eight hours sleep every night.
If you’re finding it tough to switch off before bed, you could try taking a bath, reducing your screen time, and drinking herbal teas like Chamomile. If you can, try to go to bed at a similar time every night to help maintain a good sleep pattern.
- Start a new hobby
Doing things you enjoy can help to take your mind off the current situation—even if it’s only for an hour or two. So pick up a book, start a puzzle or try a new recipe.
You could even use this time to develop a new skill. If you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, for example, there are loads of online classes and apps that can help you do this.
And if you’re missing your old social life, there are loads of ways for you to stay connected. There are online pub quizzes you could take part in or free theatre performances you could watch online.
Need to talk to someone?
Bright Wellbeing & Counselling is a 24/7 advice line and counselling service that offers compassionate and confidential mental health support.
Our qualified counsellors are available night and day to speak to you about any concerns you may have. The advice line is also open to your employees and their immediate family.
To find out more about Bright Wellbeing & Counselling and how it can help support you and your people, speak to one of our experts today on 0800 786 2806.