It is of course crucial that we protect our own and others physical health at the moment to avoid spreading this horrendous disease.
However, it is also vitally important to do what we can to protect our mental and emotional health, and help others to do the same.
I’ve come up with my suggestions of what to remember at a time like this and what we could put in place to help protect our mental health.
What we need to remember:
The importance of accepting this is a worrying time. It’s natural to feel anxious with everything that’s happening. Your feelings are normal.
We’re all in this together. We all understand each other’s worries which helps us bond and come together.
We are adaptable creatures and can find ways to cope with this unusual situation. We need to be flexible and find creative ways to cope during this strange time.
This difficult time will pass. We don’t know when but it will. We need to have hope.
What practical things you can do to help:
- Maintain structure in your day – get up at the normal time and go to bed at the normal to to help regulate your body clock; create a daily routine; break the day up into parts involving different activities; create some variety to avoid boredom.
- Exercise – there are lots of free online classes, you can also still go walking, jogging and cycling if you use social distancing.
- Get plenty of sleep and rest. Stress and anxiety is exhausting and we all need more rest at the moment.
- Limit time on social media and watching news. This helps avoid feelings of overwhelm.
- Get fresh air every day – sit in the garden; do some gardening; get up early to go for a walk somewhere quiet.
- Maintain human contact (especially important if you live on your own) – use video chats to help feel properly connected to others.
- Choose to listen to and give positive messages to yourself and others. The messages we tell ourselves have a huge impact on how we feel.
- Talk about your feelings- don?t bottle things up. Let others support you.
- Think how you can help others- this helps take our focus away from our own worries for a while AND helping others gives us that feel good factor.
- Choose to do activities at home that relax you; TV, meditation, mindful colouring, playing games, yoga, listening to music, podcasts etc.
You may also find it helpful to read my blog – What to do if you are worried about self-isolating with your spouse during your divorce.
Please note: I have other blogs to read in this series – Corona Crisis.
If you have found the tips in this blog useful then you’ll find lots more in my eBooks, which you can purchase and download today.
If you’d like to work with me 1:1, for help preparing for your divorce/or support during or after the divorce process, please get in touch to find out how I can help.
Why I became a divorce consultant.