If you have been ordered to stay at home for any length, this can be very stressful for some people, especially when compounded with a loss of income. It is easy to become depressed if you watch the news all the time and without social contact, stress is likely to occur.
Here are a few tips to help you maintain overall well-being while in lockdown.
- Video Calls – This allows you to maintain essential social contact with family and friends; simply download Zoom and ask a few friends to do the same, then you can have video calls for free.
- Physical Activity – The worst thing you can do is become a couch potato and make good use of your daily walk, plus you can login to one of the many YouTube workout routines. You should exercise at least 30 minutes per day, either in a single session or a morning/evening routine.
- Have Some ‘Me Time’ – We all need a short period of time to ourselves, doing what we love and with premier craft beer in New Zealand, you can order a case of fine pale ale and enjoy a cold one every evening. If you love chocolate, order some and keep it in the fridge for those special moments.
- Chop & Change your Routine – Routine causes boredom to set in, so make changes, take a walk before breakfast and see how you can vary the daily tasks we all go through. Avoid watching negative things like the current news and try to maintain a healthy and positive attitude.
- Avoid Excess – Everything in moderation is a perfect way to live your life and sadly, some people turn to alcohol or illegal substances to escape reality, which merely adds to the problems. If you feel you are drinking too much, there are addiction counsellors that offer their services remotely, which is possible via an application like Zoom.
- Fresh Fruit & Vegetables – Many of the small organic farms sell their fresh produce online and a Google search will put you in touch with a local farm. If your diet includes things like fresh fruit, vegetables and white meat, this, combined with exercise, will maintain physical your physical and mental well-being.
It is important to recognise when you are becoming stressed and by following the above advice, you should be healthy and ready for post-lockdown life.
