January is thought to be a tough time of the year for many, we use the expression \u2018January Blues\u2019 for a reason.<\/p>\n
With winter now upon us and a new national lockdown, many of us might be feeling a little lower than usual and you most definitely won\u2019t be alone in doing so.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the pandemic has had consequences on the lives of us all. The disruptions to our daily routines and loss of \u2018normality\u2019 has led to many of us feeling an increase in anxiety, loneliness and depression.<\/p>\n
As well as a demand in hospital services, there has been an increase in demand for mental health services across the country. The president of the Royal College of Psychiatrics, Adrien James, recently announced that \u201cthe pandemic poses the greatest threat to mental health in the UK since the Second World War.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n There has also been reports from the Office for National Statistics revealing an increase in the rate of depression with \u201cone in five people appearing to have depressive symptoms compared with one in ten before the pandemic.”<\/a><\/p>\n Now we are in the third national lockdown, how do we stay on top of our mental health? The first lockdowns were hard enough and now the implications from the new lockdown combined with the \u2018winter blues\u2019 are a concern for many.<\/p>\n Practice gratitude<\/strong> \u2013 in a time like this it can be easy to focus on what we are missing out on. Instead of thinking about what you don\u2019t have, think about what you do have and what you are grateful for. Practicing gratitude has been proven to boost happiness.<\/p>\n Move your body<\/strong> \u2013 exercise has an abundance of positive effects on you physically and mentally. There are so many different ways you can exercise, from running to yoga. You don\u2019t need any special equipment or gear, a simple walk and stretching counts just as much as a strenuous workout in the gym. If you need some inspiration, there are millions of videos to follow on YouTube covering all kinds of fitness. Yoga with Adrienne<\/a> and The Body Coach<\/a> are popular places to start.<\/p>\n Get outside<\/strong> \u2013 nature has been proven to have positive impacts on us mentally. And what better way to enjoy some nature than combining it with daily exercise. Just remember to follow the government guidelines when leaving your home. You can find more information on this here.<\/a><\/p>\n Learn something new<\/strong> \u2013 whether it\u2019s taking up a new hobby or doing an online course, learning something new can be a fantastic way to boost your mood. You\u2019ll also be able to come out of lockdown having learnt a new skill and achieving something positive from the time. You can find free courses on Open University<\/a> and if you\u2019re looking for a new hobby, YouTube is a great place to look for free tutorials.<\/p>\n Show someone you care<\/strong> – luckily, we live in a time where we are able to reach one another with the touch of a button and at this point, we should all be professionals when it comes to video calls! Make sure you find time to talk to loved ones. Haven\u2019t spoken to someone in a while? Why don\u2019t you reach out to them to ask how they are feeling? You just might make their day.<\/p>\n Selfcare<\/strong> \u2013 this might look different for everyone, for some it might be lighting some candles and running a bath, for others it might be reading a book or cooking a meal. Whatever it is for you, make sure you find some time for yourself. It\u2019s important to remember that for us to be able to look after others, we need to look after ourselves.<\/p>\nTips for looking after your mental health<\/h3>\n