WELLBEING

FROM LOCKDOWN TO RELAXATION OF COVID RULES:

TIPS ON LOOKING AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

For many of us, the gradual easing of lockdown brings longed-for opportunities (even if at a social distance) – to see friends, play sports, resume contact with family in ‘real space’ or get back to work that we value.

But for many of us, even the happy, much-anticipated changes and readjustment can be difficult for our mental health. The mental health foundation website has a number of resources that can help,

Mental wellbeing and reading

Losing yourself in a good book has been shown to reduce your levels of stress. Research by Dr David Lewis showed that reading as little as six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 60% by reducing your heart rate, easing muscle tension, and altering your state of mind. If picking up a physical book isn’t for you, most authors release audiobooks also.

Recommendations:

1. Notes on a Nervous Planet - Matt Haig 2. Good Vibes, Good Life - Vex King 3. The Anxiety Journal: Exercises to soothe stress and eliminate anxiety wherever you are - Corinne Sweet 4. Calm - Fearne Cotton 5. Happy - Fearne Cotton 6. Quiet - Fearne Cotton 7. The Mind Management – Dr Steve Peters 8. It’s not ok to feel blue and other lies – Scarlett Curtis 9. Atomic Habits – James Clear 10. Untamed: stop pleasing, start living - Glennon Doyle 11. How to Fail – Elizabeth Day 12. Breathe – Rebecca Dennis (Audiobook) 13. Unwind your mind – Emma WhispersRed (Audiobook)