Being at home
For most of us staying at home all the time is a new experience. You may be on your own, with friends or family members, be young, middle aged or old. Everyone will need to take some time to adjust.
“The single most important action we can all take in fighting coronavirus is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.”
You may feel bored, frustrated or lonely. You may also be low, worried or anxious, or concerned about your finances, your health or those close to you. It's important to remember that it is OK to feel this way and that everyone reacts differently.
Remember, this situation is temporary and, for most of us, these difficult feelings will pass. Staying at home may be difficult, but you are helping to protect yourself and others by doing it.
The tips and advice on these pages are things you can do now to help cope with how you may feel while staying at home.
The government also has wider guidance on staying at home as a result of coronavirus.
There is strong evidence that staying connected, remaining active, helping others, taking notice and learning have a positive impact on our emotional, mental and physical well-being.
Every Mind Matters
Every Mind Matters in conjunction with the NHS have issued some tips and advice and they recommend the following:
- Find out about your employment and benefits rights
- Plan practical things
- Stay connected with others
- Talk about your worries
- Look after your body
- Stay on top of difficult feelings
- Do not stay glued to the news
- Carry on doing things you enjoy
- Take time to relax
- Think about your new daily routine
- Look after your sleep
- Keep your mind active
Further information on all of the above can be found at NHS: Every Mind Matters - staying at home.
Staying connected
When we are feeling cut off from the world or our loved ones it can feel lonely and isolating, so it is important to try and stay connected at this time.
If you do not have family or friends to speak to you can speak to you can have a friendly chat over the phone with a volunteer from Age UK North Tyneside.
Caring for someone else
As the situation with coronavirus evolves, it's important to know what support is available to you as a carer and those you look after.
North Tyneside’s Carers’ Centre advice line (0191 643 2298) will be open as usual for information, advice and support.
Carers UK offer information advice and guidance for carers and those who are being cared for. Their website is updated regularly in line with government guidance and offers access to different sources of support that could be used and further advice on creating a contingency.
Managing relationships
Our relationships will be hugely important for getting us through the challenge of COVID-19 but self-isolation, social distancing and other concerns may also place them under added pressure.
Relate is the UK’s largest provider of relationship support. Relate has increased the availability of their highly trained counsellors to support everyone’s relationships during this unprecedented time and more details about Live Chat, telephone and webcam counselling services can be found by clicking here.
If you’re in a difficult relationship and feel unsafe call 999 and ask for the police.
If you cannot speak, ring 999 and then press 55 which will put you through to the police.
North Tyneside Council is continuing to support people in difficult or abusive relationships, click here for more information.
Sleep and routine
A lack of sleep can make people stressed, tired and likely to overeat, but it also leaves us open to infection. If you are finding it difficult to sleep or are waking up in the night you might find the NHS approved sleep apps useful, click here for more information.
Nutrition and hydration
People who eat a well-balanced diet tend to be healthier with stronger immune systems and lower risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases.
As we are all following government guidelines this means we all need to minimise trips to buy food and other essentials as much as possible, therefore getting out to buy fresh foods regularly will be a challenge.
For some tips on how we can still eat healthily using what you may have in your cupboards or freezer, click here.