April 29th, 2020

Taking care of yourself 

during lockdown

A lot of things have changed for people all over the world in the past few weeks and months with concerns about coronavirus. It can be scary hearing about what has been happening around the world, especially when things are uncertain. The REACH team have put together some top tips to help guide you in taking care of yourself during this time. 
 
1.It’s OK to be worried 
Being worried about the changes that are happening at the moment is totally normal. However, there are lots of things we can do to help to manage the worry we might be feeling. That might be sticking to a routine, planning your daily activities, setting small goals and making sure you make time to relax and do the things you enjoy at home (Netflix!) 
 
2.Keep in touch with friends and family 
Many young people have left school unexpectedly and keeping ourselves physically distant from people we care about can be difficult. However, technology can help to keep us all connected. Whether it’s picking up the phone, making a videocall to your bestie or talking to friends online - make sure you check in so that you and your loved ones don’t feel alone when you can’t be together. 
 
3.Don’t believe everything you see online 
One of the downsides of living in an increasingly connected world is that we can see the news 24/7! Whilst this can be helpful and keep us up to date with what’s happening, it can also make us feel a little bit anxious, so try not to look at the news too often. If you want to learn more about what’s happening, make sure that you use reliable sources, for example the BBC. 
 
4.Stay active
If you’re not able to get outside in the fresh air as much as you’d like to, get creative with how you can keep moving at home. Watch some YouTube videos, learn a new dance on TIkTok or make a circuit in your bedroom! There are lots of ways to keep active indoors and have fun too.
 
5.Have fun!
We’re all having to adjust to a lot of changes at the moment, but it’s really important to make sure you keep having fun. Play online games with friends, watch your favourite comedy or get creative with a fun new hobby. 
 
6.Ask for help
If you’re worried about anything, remember that asking for help is a good thing! Talk to a parent, friend, teacher or any other person that you trust. If you would like to talk to someone but don’t know where to turn, there are lots of helpful and confidential services for young people out there (we’ll link these below). And if that’s not for you, think about expressing your feelings in more creative ways, for example, writing a diary, a poem or private blog.  Talking about how we feel is a really important part of managing our wellbeing, especially when adjusting to big changes.