Covid-19: Top tips to stay sane during lockdown

As the national 21-day lockdown continues, the GCN spoke to Craig Palmer, counselling psychologist at Life Roseacres Hospital, about how to stay sane during lockdown.

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Here are some of his top tips:

• Create, implement and maintain some sort of structure and routine for yourself, your family and household.

• Be informed and keep up to date with news of what’s going on, but don’t become obsessed with it.

• Get some exercise and keep physically active, remembering that ‘the less you do, the less you will want to do’.

• Eat healthy and nutritious foods as much as possible, it will help you feel better and also boost your immune system.

• Take a multivitamin and get enough nutrients.

• Get enough sleep.

• Avoid mood-altering drugs/substances such as alcohol and others that can affect your mood/stress levels.

• Communicate with those with whom you live, taking time to share with each other, and to listen.

• Communicate with loved ones (friends and family) outside of your household either via calling, texting or video calling (i.e. maintain that contact).

• Now that you have the time, get to those things in the home or garden that you’ve been putting off because things have been so busy.

• Practise self-care.

• If you are spiritual or religious in any way, get back to that, put time and put energy into that.

• Take up a new hobby or interest, or start doing a previously enjoyed hobby again.

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“I think it is important to remember that we are all going through this together, not only as a community or country, but throughout the world.

“In other words, none of us are alone in this,” said Palmer.

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