6 Ways To Improve Your Emotional and Mental Wellbeing At Home
“We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.”
These poignant words, by Damian Barr, perfectly sum up our current reality. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us. Some more so than others. Some of us have found the lockdown period to be an opportunity for self-reflection. Others are experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety.
During the height of the pandemic, over 60% of people in the U.K. reported feeling anxious or worried. Although there is a glimmer of light at the end of this tunnel, there are still millions across the U.K. who are under emotional and mental stress.
It’s important for all of us to look after our emotional and mental wellbeing. In times of heightened stress and anxiety, it’s even more important. Today, we’re looking at 6 ways to improve your emotional and mental wellbeing at home.
Your Circle of Control
11th Century philosopher, Solomon ibn Gabirol, was quoted saying “At the head of all understanding – is realizing what is and what cannot be, and the consoling of what is not in our power to change.”
This concept may sound simple, but in practice it is far more difficult. Focusing on what we are able to change is a core part of your circle of control. Easier said than done. Stress and anxiety can leave many of us running things through our heads over and over again. It can end up leaving us feel out of control and hopeless.
Stephen Covey developed the “Circle of Concern, Circle of Influence.” In it, Covey notes that every one of us has a range of concerns. These can include:
- Health
- Family
- Problems at Work
- International Issues
- Conflict
Some of these issues we have control and / or influence over. Others we don’t. The issues that we have control over make up your Circle of Control.
So why is this important?
Put simply, during these troubling times, it’s important to be able to separate things that you have control over from those that you do not. Things that we can control include:
- Our own behaviour
- Our own thoughts
Things that we cannot control include:
- Other people’s behaviour
Understanding what your circle of control looks like, can be a great way of determining sources of anxiety that you can address!
6 Ways To Improve Your Emotional and Mental Wellbeing At Home
Below, we’re looking at ways to improve your emotional and mental wellbeing at home. We want you to feel empowered – these simple steps are all within your circle of control!
Stay Connected
At our core, we are a social species. Social interactions and relationships are important for our mental wellbeing. Staying connected with friends and family can provide you with emotional support. It also gives you a chance to build a sense of belonging.
While staying connected during lockdown is challenging, there are ways to keep in touch. Try video calls, voice messages, group hangouts. You can even send an old-fashioned letter – who doesn’t love receiving something in the post.
Keep Active
People who are working at a desk spend an estimated 75% of their time sitting down. Add to this working from home, and we’re spending a lot of our time sitting down. Keeping physically active is a great way to look after your emotional and mental wellbeing.
The thought of logging into YouTube and high kicking with the latest fitness guru can seem intimidating. But don’t worry! Even going out for an afternoon walk can have significant benefits. Get started with these free fitness ideas.
Be Mindful of Your Drinking
Lockdown has left more of us reaching for a drink than ever before. Pouring a glass of wine at the end of a long day of home-schooling may feel like the highlight of the day.
It’s important to be mindful of your drinking. Drinking to excess can end up having more negative repercussions than positive. Alcohol can cause feelings of depression and heightened anxiety. For more information, please refer to the NHS guidelines here.
Learn New Skills
Learning a new skill can improve your mental wellbeing. Research has shown it can:
- Boost your self-confidence
- Raise your self-esteem
- Help build your sense of purpose
- Help connect you to others
You can bring skill building into your daily life. Even if you do not have an abundance of free time, you can learn a new skill doing small things each day. Try cooking something new. Or take up a new hobby.
Learn To Give Yourself Down-Time
People have many different ways of relaxing or taking some down-time. These could be things that you do to boost your mood, such as taking a hot bath or watching a good film.
It’s easy to feel guilty about taking time for ourselves. Many of us have diaries that are full from morning to evening. However, giving yourself permission to have some down-time can be a great way of recharging your batteries. Even if it’s only five minutes a day, feel empowered to take a few moments to yourself.
Practice Mindfulness
Being mindful involves paying more attention to the present. What’s happening right now, in this moment. Consider how you are feeling, how your body is feeling, check in with your emotions.
Mindfulness can improve your enjoyment of life. It can leave you feeling better about yourself. And it can help reinforce your Circle of Control. Are you feeling tired? Perhaps you need to rest for a bit. Are you feeling restless? Why not go for a walk.
When you are more mindful, you can change how you feel about life. It can also help you approach challenges. If you’d like to read more about mindfulness, click here.
At the end of the day, remember that we are all in this together. While we’re not all in the same boat, we are in the same storm. Be kind to those around you. And importantly, be kind to yourself.
