This year has been incredibly challenging and the toll on mental health and well-being has been notable. According to the charity MIND, mental health problems affect one in four of us in any given year. The virus can be a trigger for those who suffer with anxiety, whether it be using masks, panic attacks or the sudden change to our social situations. Isolation can lead to an increase in feelings of depression.
Here are our top tips on how to pro-actively manage your mental health during lockdown…
DEVELOP A ROUTINE
We know how important routine is, especially for kids, under normal conditions. And when people are working from home or told to stay at home it goes out of the window. A big reason is that keeping a routine reduces “decision fatigue,” the overwhelm and exhaustion that can come from too many options. So it’s actually much better for everyone’s mental health to try to keep a routine going, as much as possible.
EXERCISE
We know that Joe Wicks gave everyone a health-kick in the first lockdown and luckily all his videos are on YouTube, along with many other fitness videos you can do at home. Exercising at home in these times is obviously a good way to stay healthy and kill indoor time and it is great for not only physical health but mental health too.
GO OUTSIDE
Winter is approaching which means it gets darker much earlier outside. Take some time out of your day to go outside for some fresh air and absorb the sunlight. There are many studies which support nature as being a natural anxiety and depression reducer and just a short 20-minute walk outside once a day will make an impact on your mental health.
BE SOCIABLE
We are fundamentally sociable creatures. During lockdown it can be easy to feel isolated from friends and family. Try to add video calls in with your nearest and dearest as part of your routine. If you are feeling down or worried about something the best thing to do in talk to someone.
DO A GOOD DEED
Helping other people gives us a real feel good factor. During lockdown, everyone is in a similar position and if you know someone who might need their medication ordering or picking up or who might not be able to easily go shopping for food – ask them if they’d like help. Or why not donate food to a local food bank? Either way helping, out will provide those feel good endorphins to make you feel better.
At Medicus, we are a team of pharmacists and patient liaison officers who are committed to helping. Not only can provide free delivery for all your medicines on an NHS prescription but we can also offer advice on beating the blues this winter.
We provide an advisory service, and we can also take the hassle out of ordering and collecting your NHS repeat prescriptions. We provide free delivery and a monthly check-in to make sure your medications or condition has not changed.
If you need help, please ask. Or, if you want the hassle taken out of ordering and collecting your medicines, Medicus Pharmacy would be delighted to arrange free delivery of your medicines, weekly, monthly or whenever it suits you.
Call us on 0161 222 6190 send us a quick message on Facebook and we’ll arrange a time to call you.
https://www.facebook.com/MedicusPharmacy1