Being kind to yourself during Coronavirus. Some tips on keeping yourself mentally and physically well during this time

There is really no denying that a lot has changed over the past couple of months and none of us really know how long we are going to have to continue living in this altered state. One thing I’ve encountered as a reoccurring theme over the past several weeks is that a vast majority of us are dealing with mental health in some way; whether it be our own, or of those close to us. The current circumstances have brought to the surface not only new challenges for many but have exacerbated pre-existing ones too. Whether you fall into this category yourself, or are supporting someone who does, it is extremely important to be kind to yourself and take care of your physical and mental wellbeing as much as possible. I have decided to share some of my own tips for doing so, with relevant links below that I hope you find helpful.

 

There is really no denying that a lot has changed over the past couple of months and none of us really know how long we are going to have to continue living in this altered state.

One thing I’ve encountered as a reoccurring theme over the past several weeks is that a vast majority of us are dealing with mental health in some way; whether it be our own, or of those close to us. The current circumstances have brought to the surface not only new challenges for many but have exacerbated pre-existing ones too.

Whether you fall into this category yourself, or are supporting someone who does, it is extremely important to be kind to yourself and take care of your physical and mental wellbeing as much as possible. I have decided to share some of my own tips for doing so, with relevant links below that I hope you find helpful.

 

Physical health

I’m sure I’m not the only person who has impulse bought a bicycle during this period after seeing how many people have dusted off the old pushy. It has been probably 10 years since I last rode a bike and at first it was something to get used to again, but it really is a great way to move. I’m even going to attempt cycling to work after this!

The City of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie City Council have done some great work on developing the cycleways in the region and I’ve included some links to the respective council’s website’s cycleway maps.

https://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/OnYourBike/Find-Your-Path

https://www.lakemac.com.au/For-residents/Recreation/Cycling

If cycling isn’t your thing or you’d prefer to stick to at home work-outs, there are some great free videos and tools being shared by a lot of businesses at the moment and I will be posting a link to a free at home work-out later this week, so watch this space!

 

Mental Health

If mental health is something that is a focus for you right now, there are some really great meditation and mindfulness applications in the market at the moment, with a number of them offering free or discounted services during this period.

Headspace is a meditation app and is currently offering a number of free meditations to assist those in need of some guidance through this time – https://www.headspace.com/covid-19

Calm is also a meditation app. You can learn more, or sign up for a 7 day-free trial here if you’re interested – https://www.calm.com/freetrial/plans

 

Food and its relationship with mental health

It is as equally important to choose carefully what you put into your body while maintaining regular exercise and healthy mind practices. There have been many studies showing that both the gut and brain are ultimately linked, which affects both physical and mental health. You can read more about this here – https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection

If you’d like to practice healthier eating or are in need of some new recipe ideas, precision nutrition have published a free online encyclopaedia of food that you can find here – https://www.precisionnutrition.com/encyclopedia/recipes

It’s so important that we are kind to ourselves right now, not only for our own sake, but so we are able to assist those around us wherever possible too. Stay safe!

From our blog

Read our articles below to see our latest insights.

The most important HR skills and how to master them

The most important HR skills and how to master them.   Human Resources is a critical department in any organisation. HR professionals are responsible for attracting, retaining and talent managing, among a range of other duties. As the workplace evolves, the role of HR has become increasingly complex and mastering the most important HR skills…

Proactive vs. reactive customer service

In the world of business, customer service is critical to success. It is not enough to simply sell products or services; companies must also provide exceptional customer support to retain customers and build their brand reputation. One of the most important considerations for companies is whether to adopt a proactive or reactive approach to customer…

The essential steps to finding happiness in a job

Finding happiness in a job is something that many people aspire to. However, it can be challenging to achieve, especially in today’s fast-paced and often stressful work environment. The good news is that with a few simple strategies, it is possible to find happiness and fulfilment in your job.   Identify your Passion One of…

team workshop
How to have a good first day at a new job

Are you one of the many starting 2023 with a new job? The last few months of 2022 were an exceptionally busy time in recruitment, with a record number of people accepting new positions to start the New Year. Are you one of the many starting 2023 with a new job? Here’s how to have…

How long can you maintain focus?

How long can you maintain focus?   If you can achieve 1.5 hours of clear and non-distracted work, you’re doing very well. For the average person, focus starts to decrease after around 45 minutes. Most of us have full calendars with meetings and tasks scheduled back to back. To ensure you remain productive and energised…

The 15 criteria employers are now paying closer attention to during interview

What Are Employers Evaluating During Interviews? According to a recent survey by BambooHR, 33% of all new hires are quitting their job within the first six months. It has shown that as a result, employers are now evaluating potential hires on 15 additional areas to help reduce turnover and to ensure that potential employees have…

Building an EVP and employer brand

Employer value proposition (EVP) is a unique set of advantages which an employee gets in return for the skills, attributes and experience they bring to an organization. A strong EVP motivates employees and helps in attracting a talented set of people.

Ai In recruitment – The risk of unconscious bias from a recruiter who is ultimately feeding the algorithms

Artificial Intelligence is employed in the recruitment process of companies by employing machine learning and problem- solving techniques to find the best candidate for a position. What is Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment? Artificial Intelligence is employed in the recruitment process of companies by employing machine learning and problem- solving techniques to find the best candidate for…

Being kind to yourself during Coronavirus. Some tips on keeping yourself mentally and physically well during this time

There is really no denying that a lot has changed over the past couple of months and none of us really know how long we are going to have to continue living in this altered state. One thing I’ve encountered as a reoccurring theme over the past several weeks is that a vast majority of…

Winning the war for talent

Recruiting talent in the modern, globalised economy is a difficult task. The advent of social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram have created more channels to connect with talent; the need to create sophisticated strategies to attract talent; and have delivered many more avenues for talent to source multiple, concurrent competing job offers. Recruiting…