Are you worried?

Relive your worries with these 10 top tips

What a year 2020 has been so far. Who would have thought the year turn out the way it has. 

I had so many big plans this year and I'm sure many others had to. 

A lot of us are struggling at the minute and I want to dedicate this blog post to help as many people possible.

Here are my top tips to help deal with stress and anxiety with COVID:

1.  STAY CONNECTED - If you can safely meet with family members or friends do it. Otherwise stay in touch by phone, zoom/video calls or social media. Keeping in touch with your dearest is good for your mental health and let me tell you everybody needs this right now! Talking to your loved loves can put you in such a different mood, just hearing their voice makes you feel that little bit safer.

2. TALK ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS - Giving the environment we are in its 'normal' to be scared, feel helpless and worried. It's incredibly important to talk about your worries whether to someone you know and trust or any of the helplines out there. Your health is so so important do not let is suffer for anyone, including your career. 

3. HELP AND SUPPORT OTHERS - The feeling of helping someone else brings you so much gratitude and makes your feel so much better as well as helping the individual. Spare some time to either talk, meet up or send them a little gift or something that will put a smile on their face. Make use of your time and join a community page to help brighten peoples days. Truly helping others helps you. 

4. BE PREPARED - As government guidance changes it's important to understand how it affects you. Understand what is government advice and what is the law. But most importantly don't read too much into it.

5. EXERCISE - Our physical body plays part in how we feel. Move your body whether it be a walk, stretch or workout. It can be easy during this time to fall into bad habits of eating unhealthy consistently which ends up making us feel worse. Aim to drink enough water and eat well-balanced meals.

6. STICK TO FACTUAL INFORMATION - Only gather information from factual sources such as the gov.co.uk and NHS. This is extremely important for not only yourself but for others. Seeing information on Facebook or other social media that isn't true can really worry us and put us in panic. DON'T do this to your self. Limiting time spent reading or listening to these will do you a world of good. 

7. STAY ON TRACK WITH YOUR FEELINGS - This pandemic has really intensified peoples anxiety, especially my own. I can jokingly remember telling a colleague if the virus reaches over 100 people in the UK I would not be working in the office and now look at how it ended up!! Instead, focus on things you can control. This can be anything from who you speak to, your own behaviour and how much you get information on the subject.  It's ok to not feel ok, and some things are out of our control but listening to something positive like a podcast or audiobook can release you from being overwhelmed and feeling anxious.

8. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE THINGS YOU ENJOY - Worrying about the pandemic can stop us from doing the things we love but we shouldn't let this get the better of us. Connect with others and stay in touch, focus time on your favourite hobby or sport. You could also try something new if you are staying inside like scrapbooking, reading, or working out. 

9. PRESENT NOT FUTURE - Worrying about the future in a time like this against any other normal time is not good for you. Be present, it will not do your mind any good by thinking negatively and letting your mind run wild. Try breathing techniques, breath in for 5, hold for 5 and let out for 10. There variations of this but even just practising this will lower your stress and anxiety levels. 

10. GET A GOOD NIGHTS REST - Living on no sleep is exhausting. We need to look after our bodies as sleep plays a big part in us physically and mentally. You need to create a resting environment, look after yourself. I suggest limiting your time on technology at least an hour before bed or more if you feel like it. Cutting back on that caffeine hit, it may make you feel a little better but only for the short term. Even meditating before bed, or reading which can make your eyes tired will help. 

I hope these tips will help many. 

All my love,

T 

xxx