COVID-19 Outbreak
How to look after your wellbeing
Looking After your Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Looking after your well-being is important at all times, however during these extra testing times, we may be finding even if we usually keep well, that we are suffering from increased anxiety and stress.
Those who are already living with mental health issues such as panic, anxiety, OCD or depression, may find themselves feeling like they are sinking with the added pressures of disrupted daily routines, and may already be isolated from family, friends and colleagues.
As we are thrown into times of the seemingly unknown, it is easy to let your thoughts get carried away with panic. With the bombardment of media online and in the news and false information which is spreading like wildfire across our social media channels- it is very easy to feel overwhelmed.
Stay Active at Home
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More information for Healthcare Workers
The current coronavirus pandemic is creating additional physical and mental wellbeing challenges to all frontline health and social care staff. Primary care clinicians, ambulance staff and emergency department staff are at the very front of that frontline and are coming into contact with many patients. Workload and demands are rising and staff concern has understandably increased as well.
The frontline organisations (including the Royal College of GPs, Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the College of Paramedics and Royal College of Emergency Medicine) have been working together for several weeks nationally to develop joined up ways of working to support the urgent and emergency care systems and patients, and are also committed to supporting health and social care staff across the UK.
They have all endorsed the attached support leaflet developed by Living Life to the Full. This was initially intended to provide wellbeing advice for frontline staff under pressure, but is now being offered for free to all health and social care staff.
The leaflet also links to the Living Life to the Full Plus course. A special version of the course is being made available nationally to all NHS and Social Care staff across the UK.
NHS and social care staff can work through the course resources in any way they want. There are modules, numerous online books to read as well as worksheets that can be completed online via your smartphone or computer. It’s also free for use by the family and friends of NHS and social care workers too.
Make A Plan! - Use our Planner Sheet
Apart from truly essential workers, we are now all (largely) staying at home- essential to save lives. However these changes are very disruptive to our wellbeing. We have lost the routine and structure to our day. It’s important to rediscover that. You may also notice that things we would usually do that are good for us have been cut down, or stopped. Hobbies, work, interests, meeting people, getting out and about- all the things that give colour in our life.
Here’s a tool to help plan some changes back. There’s lots you can’t do, but what can you still do? Split the day up into morning/afternoon and evening. Plan at least one thing in each part that:
- Is fun/pleasurable: e.g. music, hobby, a walk (2 meters apart, once a day), cooking a nice meal, playing a game
- Connects you to others: talking to people in your flat/house, giving someone a phone/skype/zoom, chatting on social media
- Recognises achievements/things you’ve got done: Tidied a room? Done some work for school/university/college/work, helped someone, cut the lawn etc.
- Helps you keep fit: cooked a healthy meal, went for a walk, exercised at home (e.g. walking up and down stairs), did a yoga or keep fit class online etc.
Make a plan to do each – and write the plan in your diary.
Register at www.llttf.com for more courses, hints and tips (free).
Useful Tips for Wellbeing
Facing Your Fears and Tackling Avoidance – how to use the Face It Planner sheet.
Are you struggling to get out and about or face things, people or places that feel too difficult? When we avoid it initially feels helpful – in the short term, but in the long term only compounds our anxious feelings and we can fall into a vicious cycle of avoidance, the more we avoid the less we do and the less we do the worse we feel, our world gets smaller and smaller, and we feel worse and worse! Find out how to use our Face It Planner Sheet here.
Stress- Dealing with Difficult Neighbours
Lockdown has added to people’s life challenges and for some a sense of being trapped and as pressures have built up and we may have found ourselves in situations of increased stress. Common complaints from people in recent times is that lockdown has affected their relationship with others and some people have experienced increased serious hassles with neighbours such as witnessing anti-social behaviour, noncompliance with Covid restrictions, threats, noise abuse, damage to property.
Back to School- Well-Being Resources for Young People
A year on into the Covid 19 pandemic and it’s back to school time again for lots of primary and secondary school children. Some will still be waiting to hear when they can return full time. Others may have started back, and many will have a mix of emotions about the return to a ‘normal’ school day routine. Now more than ever children and young people need support from their teachers and carers. Our range of resources are designed to support their well-being, either in a group or one to one setting. This blog explains the different courses and resources we have on offer for different age groups.
Reading- Helping You to Help Yourself
Reading, not only is a gateway to learning, from following simple instructions to learning about topics of interest but can be a source of great pleasure and healing for many people in different ways and can help you cope during difficult times; when you suffer a bereavement, or have relationship problems, or are struggling through broader issues like lockdown restrictions and the personal impact of Coronavirus.
Things We Can Be Thankful For
It is International Thank You Day today and if anything, living alongside coronavirus has made things we previously took for granted seem so much more valuable and precious. While we are enjoying the easing of restrictions and steps back to a more normal way of life, everything can still seem quite uncertain. It is good to remind ourselves of what we can truly be thankful for.
Using the Living Life to the Full Resources
Getting the most out of the online courses and books.
Christchurch Clevedon and Living Life to the Full for Adults
We aim to equip churches, Christian organisations and Christian’s with evidence based resources which help people overcome low mood and anxiety and to build emotional resilience.
In just eight session our adapted Living Life to the Full online course can help you make a difference to your life. With associated downloadable worksheets, learn how to sort out your feelings when you feel low, worried or hopeless and learn skills that tackle problems in your life.
Getting Back Into Daily Routines in January and Making Achievable Changes
Getting back to normal in January during any year is a difficult and uncomfortable thing to do, never mind during a global pandemic. Often, we feel the pressure to start the New Year as a brand-new improved version of ourselves. However, most of us spend December being a very different version to our ‘normal’ selves. This blog is out how to get back to normal, and achieve realistic goals, rather than setting yourself up for a fail.
Winter Sky Gazing
Take part in our Sky Gazing Challenge and win a free copy of our mindfulness book ‘Slow Down and Be.’ Help free your mind from worry and stress around coronavirus by getting back to nature and enjoying the sky.
Dealing with Stress
“I’m Stressed” is a common phrase we often hear nowadays. If we want to deal with our ‘stress’ first, we need to know what it really means and how it affects us. How stress response can be helpful at times and at other times become emotionally and physically overwhelming. If we experience it for prolonged periods it can lead to mental and physical health problems. Fid out some tips for coping with stress in our blog.