Look after your physical health:
Be Social:
- Keep in touch with friends via phone/Skype/WhatsApp/Messenger
- Keep in touch with family via phone/Skype/WhatsApp/Messenger
- Keep in touch with neighbours via phone/Skype/WhatsApp/Messenger. Ideas for engagement include asking grandchildren or local children to practice their musical instrument or put on a performance in your front garden.
- Join an online choir. Check out Pub-Choir-to-Couch-Choir and The-Sofa-Singers both can be found online.
Look after your mental health:
- Mental Health Australia E-Guide: Looking after your Mental health during a pandemic
- Seek mental stimulation examples of which could include having a jigsaw puzzle on the go, doing word or number puzzles (can be on paper or online) or start a creative project. Read our Thrive Guide for more ideas on self-care
- Endeavour to be kind to yourself with positive inner dialogue
- Put aside an area just for you. It could be a room, a chair or a spot in the garden where you can relax and be comfortable
- Write in a journal or diary
- Listen to a podcast. Here are just a couple of suggestions that are not current affairs:
-Strong Songs (breaks down and discusses the secrets of famous songs)
-Everything is Alive (An unscripted interview show in which all the subjects are inanimate objects)
- Re-read a favourite book or re-watch a favourite movie or TV series
- Feed birds in your garden
- Allow yourself to cry
- Allow yourself to laugh
- Take part in activities and seek out opportunities to acknowledge and express your feelings. Some examples include:
-Phone Counselling: https://counselling.carergateway.gov.au/s/
-Carer Gateway forum: https://forum.carergateway.gov.au/s/
-Peer group support: https://www.carersact.org.au/support-groups/
-Carer Self-Guided coaching: https://coaching.carergateway.gov.au/
Consider your spiritual health:
- Connect with your spiritual believes
- Meditate
- Do breathing exercises
- Celebrate milestones with rituals that are meaningful to you
- Practice yoga. A few options include: Yoga with Adrienne. This is free on Youtube. Down Dog is a free yoga app.
Great Information & Articles:
The Complete Guide to Insomnia – and how you can manage it:
https://howtosleep.co.uk/guides/the-complete-guide-to-insomnia
Your Survival Guide to Staying at Home:
https://theconversation.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/r/704E557F6B12255A2540EF23F30FEDED/9F1EE7E728FEECE27EEA1DAE616D4B3C
The Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 We Aren’t Talking About
Excellent analysis from Shine magazine: https://advice.shinetext.com/articles/the-mental-health-impact-of-covid-19-we-arent-talking-about/
I Spent a Year in Space, and I Have Tips on Isolation to Share
Take it from someone who couldn’t: Go outside.
Scott Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut, wrote this opinion piece for the New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/21/opinion/scott-kelly-coronavirus-isolation.html
Australian Government & Community Services Resources
Government
Mental health
Parenting and Children
Resources for Young People
Other resources