Today is World Health Day which is a global awareness day organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to encourage all leaders to support everyone to have living and working conditions that are conducive to good health. At GC, we are committed to continue in our efforts to offer the relevant support to promote good health and wellbeing to our people.
Before we focus on this month’s topic - the easing of lockdown restrictions and the possible impact on our wellbeing - I wanted to mention the upcoming Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) from 10-16 May. As part of the activities being planned by our Mental Health Champions and Health and Wellbeing Network, we will be running a virtual Group fundraising challenge for a national charity (further details to follow).
Please vote for which charity you would like us to raise money for as part of MHAW before Wednesday 21 April, from the four listed on here.
Easing of lockdown restrictions
For many of us, the gradual easing of lockdown brings longed-for opportunities (even if at a social distance) – to begin to meet friends and family in ‘real space’ or play sports. I’m certainly excited at the prospect of finally returning to the hairdressers that’s for sure!
But for many of us, even the happy, much anticipated changes and re-adjustment can be difficult for our mental health. Covid has been such a disruption from how we normally live our lives that people have had to put in time and effort to adapt to the new normal. In anticipation of restrictions lifting, some people might find themselves experiencing increased levels of stress and anxiety if additional commitments or time constrains no longer allow them to keep good routines in place.
And for many others, the prospect of coming out of lockdown when debate is still live about the science supporting it can be a real worry. This may especially apply to those more vulnerable to the virus and those of us with anxiety related mental health conditions.
Fear and anxiety
Because our situations are unique to us, it is really important to try not to judge ourselves harshly based on what other people are doing. Everybody is facing uncertainty and challenge and we have no choice but to move through it as best we can with our own coping mechanisms. For those who are feeling more anxious due to the ongoing uncertainty and changes in restrictions, here are a few tips from the Mental Health Foundation on coping with these feelings which you may find useful:
Focus on the present – with regulations changing frequently, and lots of conflicting media discussions, try and keep a focus on the moment and if you are unsure of the changes in restrictions, you can check what the current rules are on the government website. Mindfulness meditation is one way of bringing your mind back to the present moment. You can find out more about mindfulness from Mindful.org, Embrace Mindfulness and Frantic World.
Pace yourself – recognising that you need to go at the right pace for you is important. Don’t let others pressure you into doing things you don’t want to – but try not to let that be an excuse not to push yourself, especially when it comes to reconnecting with friends safely, outside your home, when rules allow and the time is also right for you. It’s important to discuss concerns with those close to you, but also to allow other people space to move at their own pace.
Build up tolerance – try doing something that challenges you every day, or every few days. Don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t go well but keep at it. Keep a note of things you’ve achieved, enjoyed or surprised yourself doing.
Vary your routines – try and vary your routines so that you see different people and encounter different situations. If one supermarket makes you nervous, try another. If a walk at one time of the day is very busy, try mixing walks at busy times with walks at quieter times.
Talk to people you trust – if you are finding it hard to get to work or do particular activities because of anxiety or fear, speak to your manager or a colleague you trust if that feels right. It’s important to talk about how you feel, don’t dismiss your concerns or judge yourself too harshly. To find out more about additional support including our Employee Assistance Programme and further resources visit our Health and Wellbeing hub.
To help you relax and feel more calm, why not try the new breathing technique feature on My Health Advantage App (use the code MHA045923)?
As always, do let me know what you think of our monthly Wellbeing Wednesday emails and if there are any other specific topics you would like us to cover in the future, please get in touch.
Take care and stay safe.