Tips for wellbeing


We recognise that our whole RHN community is anxious at the moment.

Working with our Clinical Psychology team, we have put together a project called ‘Head Space’.

To start with, here are some tips that we hope will help.
Take care of yourselves.

  1. Limit your time listening to the news and checking social media. Give yourself a break from your TV/phone.
  2. Get your information from legitimate news sources or the UK Government website. Watch the news to be informed by it, not absorbed by it.
  3. Be kind to yourself. Take a mindful moment and list three things you’re grateful for.
  4. Remember you are not alone, we are all in this together. Stay connected and keep talking to people you find helpful and caring.
  5. Voice or video call your loved ones, or have a virtual house party.
  6. Allow extra time every day for stress relief – have a long bath, take a socially distanced walk, create art, listen to music, do something that brings you joy.
  7. Practice mindfulness and calming breathing techniques, www.headspace.com have great free resources.
  8. Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking. Challenge your negativity, try to focus on positive thoughts and positive things in your life.
  9. Prioritise your self care – try to maintain a daily routine, make sure to get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet and do some exercise.
  10. Take each day at a time and focus on what you can control. Remember each day is a day closer to our RHN family reuniting.

Sources of help for families 

This short booklet has a number of tips for dealing with feelings like anxiety, worry and depression, for anyone struggling to cope with the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

Download yourself a a pdf copy here.

Finding stillness in crisis

Our Clinical Psychology team have put together a document to help your mental wellbeing.

Download a PDF copy here.

Using music therapy

Our music therapy team have created some guidance on how to use music for self-care

Download a PDF copy here

Maintaining a routine 

Simple, but effective and even while social distancing – keeping a routine is helpful.
For example wake up at the same time and get ready for the day as usual. Eat meals at a set time, have a daily exercise routine at a similar time each day and sleep at the same time.

It’s also useful to plan out what tasks need to be completed and by when. You might want to use the evening to relax (watch something you like, phone or video call a loved one).

Having a routine can help to keep our mood, motivation and body clock in check.

Dealing with worry

It is normal to feel worried in uncertain times. We must try not to let normal worry grow into excessive worry.

Worry isn’t just in our heads. When it becomes excessive we feel it as anxiety in our bodies too, these physical symptoms include:

  • increased heart rate
  • sweating, trembling or shaking
  • digestive problems such as stomach ache or feeling sick
  • restlessness and an inability to relax
  • difficulty concentrating
  • difficulty sleeping

To combat worries,

  • keep your mind and body active
  • talk to others
  • focus on what you can control
  • speak to yourself with compassion

 

Extra support for those who need it

Our Clinical Psychology team have put together a document with more information for those needing a little more support.

Download a copy here

Need more emotional support?

Contact the Samaritans, no matter what you’re going through. For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, or go to the Samaritans website.