With a sizable percentage of the population under lockdown restrictions, and even more of us working from home – it’s safe to say that staying in is the new going out. Our normal everyday routines are on hold, and inevitably this kind of largescale upheaval has a big impact on how we feel, in both body and mind.
Keep reading as we run through City Lit’s top tips for sustaining mental health and wellbeing, during a time when so many of our usual coping mechanisms may not be accessible.
How to look after your mental health and wellbeing
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Go outside
The power of fresh air is easy to underestimate, but a quick stroll around the park can make a huge difference to your mood. If you’re feeling cooped up from working remotely, try and make sure you get out every day, even if it’s just for 10 minutes on your lunch break, or half an hour pottering about in the garden.
Feeling more adventurous? You could go for a bike ride, drive out somewhere for a hike (if local restrictions allow), or brave a wild swim if you live near the coast. Planning an activity like this for the weekend is a great way to make sure you spend a solid chunk of time out of the house, blow out the cobwebs and get a change of scene while you’re at it.
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Relearn relaxation
We all have different ways of relaxing, but if your usual go-tos aren’t working (or available) right now, it might be time to rethink your approach. There are plenty of things you can do to unwind without leaving the house; some people may favour a hot bath, a good book, or podcast, while other minds find refuge in a solitary hobby like journaling or crafts.
If you’re still struggling to destress, why not consider having a go at one of our relevant courses? From Meditation and Mindfulness to Creativity and Relaxation, these City Lit courses include materials designed to help you develop greater resilience, so you come away with valuable tools that’ll last you a lifetime.
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Eat well
It’s easy to slip into convenient, comforting eating habits during times of uncertainty, and while these serve a purpose, they don’t always include the healthiest foods. The occasional takeaway is a great way to ring in the weekend (and support local businesses), but you might benefit from a more balanced diet day to day.
The food we eat can have a huge effect on both our energy levels and – more surprisingly – our mood. Want to learn more? Our Health, Energy, and Nutrition courses could help you to make more informed decisions around food; and find out what you need to function as healthily and happily as possible.
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Learn something new
With more time to spend at home than ever before, now’s the perfect opportunity to have a go at learning something new, however daunting it may seem. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn another language, try your hand at throwing pottery, or pick up the acoustic guitar? Whatever you fancy, learning something from scratch is a good distraction and a great way to flex some mental muscles you might not have used for a while.
At City Lit, we offer a huge range of Language courses currently delivered live online. Our catalogue of tutor-led courses covers over 27 different languages and is suitable for every ability level. If you’re tempted by a musical instrument instead, take a look at our extensive collection of Music courses (currently online) – you’ll find string and wind instrument courses, as well as theory classes on subjects like music technology and digital audio production.
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Move your body
This sounds like obvious advice but making sure you get enough regular exercise can do wonders for your state of mind. As well as the endorphins you’ll enjoy afterward, a workout will increase your energy levels, plus it’s likely to help you shake off any feelings of lockdown lethargy.
Working out where to start can be intimidating, especially if you’re relatively new to the fitness world, but a City Lit course might be just the motivation you need. Check out our Yoga and Pilates classes for a bit of inspiration, or Dance for something more fast-paced!
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Stay connected
Whether you’re isolating, shielding, or just working from home for the foreseeable, the chances are you’ve felt a bit disconnected from your friends, family, and colleagues over the last six months. Thankfully, there are more virtual methods of staying in touch with each other than ever before.
If you’ve spent a bit too much time with your support bubble, or you’re missing your long-distance friends, try and put some time aside to catch up with other people every once in a while. Not big on phone calls? There are heaps of alternatives – you could watch a film together over WhatsApp, play a board game online, or even host a Zoom quiz.
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Set boundaries
As important as it is to touch base with loved ones during a time like this, too much virtual contact can start to feel a little overwhelming. Particularly in the evenings, it can be hard to avoid spending a lot of time on social media, browsing news apps, or glued to your texts – you might actually end up struggling to sleep.
Setting boundaries with screen time for both work and your social life can help to retain a sense of control and reduce your blue light intake to boot. A simple way to do this is setting your smartphone to activate Do Not Disturb mode at a specific time, or limiting the number of calls you take per day.
Whatever your personal circumstances may be, we hope there’s something useful in this list of tips for everyone. Interested in taking one of City Lit’s online courses? Browse our online courses here and learn more about our online learning procedures here
