We know that these are incredibly difficult and challenging times for us all. The Covid-19 crisis has changed things drastically for many of us and even though we are really proud that so many women have been reaching out to Margo Motivates to keep up with their fitness or kick-start a healthier lifestyle, we also wanted to reach out to a Counselling Psychologist who could give us some helpful tips on how we can further help support ourselves during the lockdown, as well as after.
Special Thanks to Dr. Alexandra Nicholson for taking the time out of her busy schedule in London to write these little pearls of wisdom for us.
● Acknowledge your feelings– You may be experiencing a range of emotions such as feeling overwhelmed, anxious, tired or de-motivated. It is important to give yourself permission to feel what you are feeling. It is normal to be feeling scared because these times are scary.
● Create a helpful daily routine– Create a structure by writing out a plan of the day or week. If you are working from home, try to get ready in the same way you would prior to this pandemic (e.g. don’t wear your pyjamas all day). Think about how you can adapt and create new helpful routines for yourself. What achievable and realistic goals can you set yourself?
● Connect with others-Although we may not be able to be with those we care about in person, it is important to have contact with others for our wellbeing. Make time in your day or week to call friends and family whether this is a telephone call, zoom session, or text.
● Express how you’re feeling-It can be helpful to you and to others to share your concerns with people you trust. We may all be reacting in different ways, but all our feelings are valid. Try not to compare your distress.
● Get enough sleep– Getting enough (7-8 hours) and good quality sleep makes a significant difference to how we feel and how we can manage difficult experiences. Setting a consistent sleeping pattern can be helpful such as trying to go to bed and waking up at the same time every-day. Some tips to aid your sleep are: create a comfortable sleeping environment, try not to nap, limit your caffeine intake and keep at least an hour before bedtime to carry out
non-stimulating exercises (e.g. reading) with no screen time.
