COVID-19 has created a chaotic world where feeling stressed, anxious and overwhelmed is the norm. While you may be taking care of your body and mind everyday by eating well, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep, with the topsy-turvy nature of COVID-19, this may not be enough. With the lockdown restrictions in Melbourne and regional Victoria, self-care can be challenging. Even though you’re not permitted to have massages, visit day spas or take a drive to the country for a long hike, the options below can be enjoyed at home.
Stay active
If you’re in Melbourne, at the moment you’re permitted to exercise outside with a face mask on for only 1 hour a day. After you’ve been outside exercising, adding some other home-based exercises into your day could include:
· Online yoga classes. There are some free yoga channels like Yoga with Adriene while others like Glo offer a free trial.
· Weight training. Some good online options include 28 by Sam Wood and Chris Hemsworth’s Centr.
There’s also free and paid online exercise options for your children including Go Noodle and Alo Yoga.
Call your friends and family members
Reaching out to your friends and family with an ‘old fashioned’ phone call or a FaceTime call is a great way to stay in touch and let others know how you’re going. Hearing familiar voices and seeing loved ones can help you feel more connected and less alone. Once you’ve discussed how you’re both going, it’s beneficial to end the call with one good thing that’s happened during your day.
Practice mindfulness
Feeling stressed and anxious about COVID-19 while being in lockdown, can result If your emotions and feelings are up and down like a roller coaster. Taking time out of your day to practice mindfulness and staying in the present moment is a helpful way to slow your thoughts down and produce a sense of calm. A simple way to practice mindfulness is to focus on one small daily activity like drinking a cup of coffee. When you’re drinking the coffee, pay attention to the smell, taste and warmth of the mug in your hand. Using meditation apps like Smiling Mind and Insight Timer with guided meditations can help you develop a regular meditation practice.
Eat healthy and/or prepare homemade meals
Look after your body by eating a healthy and balanced diet as much as you can whilst in lockdown. It’s tempting to sit in front of the TV and snack on high sugar and fat foods, especially when our activities are restricted. Take the time to plan how you will keep your diet healthy and balanced.
For those who enjoy cooking, taking the time to choose a recipe and prepare a meal from scratch is a simple way to practice self-care. Searching for new recipes online or browsing through your cookbooks is a good way to stay present. If some of the ingredients aren’t available at the supermarket, get creative with substitutions. If you make a big batch of soup or lasagna, generously sharing some with an elderly neighbour or a friend who lives close to you will make you feel good while they feel good.
Reduce the amount of time you watch and listen to the news
With COVID-19 press conferences delivered every day, it can be easy to fall into the habit of watching every single one. Staying informed is important but watching TV or listening to radio updates before scrolling through Twitter or Facebook isn’t helpful to your mental health. Choosing one trusted news service for your information can help calm your emotions.
If you’ve been practising self-care and still feel overwhelmed by COVID-19 and the isolation requirements, you don’t have to cope alone. The Federal Government has recently announced all Victorians are eligible for an extra 10 sessions of psychological care through Medicare, “people in Victoria subjected to further restrictions can now receive up to 20 sessions of psychological care through Medicare.” Cova Psychology is here to support your mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19. Contact us to book a Psychologist Melbourne. Our Melbourne Psychologists offer a wide range of therapies including EMDR Therapy Melbourne.
