It's time for some self-care

Being at home can actually be very exhausting in itself as you find the days roll into one. Not only can this be very boring, but it can also be extremely isolating and can affect your mental health. To make sure you are putting your health and wellbeing first, we have listed a few activities for you to get involved in, that will help you to take your mind off things and allow you to relax:

 Fitness:

Now is a perfect time for working on your fitness goals! Usually, it can be hard to find the time to do exercise or go to the gym. But now there are so many opportunities to keep fit and lots of FREE online resources to make it happen! You don't need to venture to a gym anymore!

Some good ones you might like to try are:

1. The Body Coach - you might have heard the name Joe Wicks recently... That's because his workouts are a great way to keep fit! Check out his YouTube for some amazing routines!
2. FREE Barre with Fly LDN - Fly LDN have decided to share free 45 minute barre workouts every week, to help those who want to workout from home. See the schedule on their Instagram here.
3. Gymshark have released a conditioning app with free workouts for you to do at home, which need little or no equipment! Check them out here.
4. Peloton - You might know the name from their TV ad which shows some amazing spin workouts. Well they have now released an app for home workouts which you can download for 90 days for FREE!

Get some fresh air

Make sure you are getting out when you can. As we are going to be spending a lot of time inside, it is important you get some fresh air at some point during the day. Going for a short walk or run will help you to be mindful and to relax. Get lost in nature and take some time to breathe!

Start writing:

Writing down how you feel can be really useful to help let go of negative feelings. Buy yourself a journal and start writing down how you are feeling each day. This will help you to gain some insight on how you are actually feeling and allow you to let go of any worries you might have.

Reading: 

Reading can be a really helpful way to relax and take your mind off things. So, why not start a new book in your spare time? Cosy up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and a good book and you'll feel all your worries melt away.

Some good books at the moment are:

1. Such a fun age by Kiley Reid
2. Good Vibes, Good life by Vex King 
3. Pretending by Holly Bourne
4. The wrong move by Jennifer Savin
5. Seven Lies by Elisabeth Kay
6. A theatre for dreamers by Polly Samson

Puzzles:

Puzzles are such a good way to keep the mind active and distracted from the stresses of daily life. There are lots of puzzles available online and lots of apps which have loads of different puzzles to suit you! These will keep you occupied in your spare time and allow you to forget about your worries.

Play some now on MIND’s website

Listening to music:

I'm sure a lot of you already do this... but listening to music can be a really helpful tool to relax. Whenever you start feeling stressed, take a break and listen to some music - it will help to distract you from whatever you are worried or stressed about. Check out Spotify's  'Chilled out' playlist here.

Be creative:

While you have some time, why not get the creative juices flowing. Doing something creative will not only keep you busy while at home, but it is incredibly useful as a form of relaxation. There are lots of ways for you to get creative! You could do something as simple as drawing a rainbow and put it in your window, or you could go all out and start re-decorating! Whatever you choose, start getting creative and you'll find that not only will time pass a lot quicker, but you'll be a lot more relaxed!
Click here for some examples!

Deep breathing exercises:

Deep breathing exercises can be really useful and help you to stay calm and collected. There are lots of resources online that provide you with different breathing and relaxation techniques. Some of them are listed below:
1. Mind have some breathing exercises available on their website to help you relax.
2. The NHS have put some breathing exercises together for stress and anxiety.
3. Headspace has lots of good breathing exercises, so you can find what suits you!
4. If you want more than a simple breathing exercise, try Yoga with Adrienne. Her videos are free and you can watch them on her YouTube. There are shorter practices (around 10 minutes) and longer versions (up to 45 minutes).




Remember to take care of yourself and others, your health and wellbeing is what matters most!