Over the last few weeks, we’ve shared tips for dealing with anxiety around coronavirus and taking care of your wellbeing while in isolation.
We’ve also put together this list below of things that some of our team here at WayAhead are doing and we hope that they’re useful to you too.
“Making food has always been a source of joy for me and being at home means I have the chance to make some foods that take a lot of time. Being able to go back and forth to the kitchen breaks up my day and helps me feel calm when my anxiety gets high.”
Asha, Mental Health Promotions Officer
“Things that work for me – I like listening to a funny podcast or watching a funny show or video online. Playing the top 30 videos of the pop songs when you were 12 years old is also fun. I also like doing something I have been putting off for some time. It makes you feel like you have accomplished something.”
Liz, CEO
Although technology brings us closer together than ever before, there are wonderful analogue ways for older and younger generations to connect as well.
“If you have younger children, it might be nice to have them write letters to their grandparents or their friends. Often kids don’t get a chance to learn how to write letters. I saw someting online about a local school getting in touch with an aged care facility to share letters from children to residents who can’t have visitors anymore and it was lovely to see the looks on the faces of the older people.”
Julie, Health Education Officer
Many articles have supported maintaining routines for working from home in order to maintain wellbeing, but what does that look like?
“I get up and have a shower, as usual. I’ve set up my desk for work and sometimes I work outside. I always open the blinds and get the light in and see the trees across the street; it makes it feel less claustrophobic. Everyone is making it up as they go; we’re all in a situation we’ve never been in.”
Paul, Information Officer
Interrupting negative thoughts, potentially even practicing mindfulness, can help with feeling calmer in these uncertain times.
“It’s important to pay attention to your thoughts, to rationalise thinking, be mindful, look for distraction to interrupt your worries, think about what you can actually do. The best thing for everyone might be to do nothing and recognise what is beyond our control.”
Rachel, Anxiety Support Groups Coordinator