The outbreak of the Coronavirus may be very stressful for some people, and be impacting your or those around you in various different ways.
Thankfully, despite the extraordinary circumstances we currently find ourselves in, there are still a number of things you can do to support yourself and those around you:
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Take breaks from watching, reading or listening to news stories – including social media. Repeatedly hearing about the pandemic can be upsetting, and increase feelings of fear, panic and anxiety.
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Take care of your body. Make the time to take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol and drugs. Consider these your ‘essentials’.
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Make time to unwind. Find the time to do activities you enjoy.
If you are in self-isolation, quarantine or social-distancing, Lifeline Australia recommends the following strategies:
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Perspective – try to see this time as unique and different, not necessarily bad, even if it something you didn’t necessarily choose.
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Connection – think of creative ways to stay connected with others, including social media, email and phone.
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Be generous to others – giving to others in times of need not only helps the recipient, it enhances your wellbeing too. Is there a way to help others around you?
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Stay connected with your values. Don’t let fear or anxiety drive your interactions with others. We are all in this together!
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Daily routine – create a routine that prioritises things you enjoy and even things you have been meaning to do but haven’t had enough time. Read that book, watch that show, take up that new hobby. Try to see this as a new and unusual period that might even have some benefits.
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Limit your exposure to news and media. Perhaps choose specific times of day when you will get updates, and ensure they are from reputable and reliable sources.
If you would like to distribute a mental health resource to your staff or team during this time, please feel free to email [email protected] to request a copy of our ‘Self-care during the Coronavirus’ handout.