The timing of mental health awareness week 2020 could not be more apt.
With social distancing, isolating and working from home the ‘new normal’; now more than ever we must look after ourselves and each other for mental and physical wellbeing.
It is ok not to be ok and everyone’s feelings are valid. However, if you catch your mind on a hamster wheel of negative thoughts and you want to do something about it here are just a few of the many ways you can ground yourself and become present.
- Square breathing – get comfortable and focus on relaxing the shoulders, neck & head then breathe in for a count of 5, hold air in for a count of 5, breathe out for a count of 5 & hold for a count of 5 before repeating. Try 4-5 cycles at a time, as regularly as you find helpful throughout the day.
- Meditation or mindfulness – some people can meditate by themselves, others find it helpful to be guided through a relaxation (one of these in our upcoming newsletter). There are great apps such as Calm, Headspace and Unwinding Anxiety, as well as various recorded meditations that can be downloaded from your favourite yogi, mindfulness expert or coach.
- 5 senses exercise – see our instagram post below for details on this.
It is so important at this time to stay connected and look out for each other. Please direct anyone you think may benefit from these exercises to the blog and if you feel someone is really struggling or in danger here are a number of charities, helplines and information sites to help:
Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/
Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/donate?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp4OigLO_6QIVU-3tCh3Bxw6VEAAYASAAEgLeH_D_BwE
Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week
Childline https://www.childline.org.uk/
