Top 5 ways to increase your well-being

We’re almost a week into the tighter restrictions introduced by the Prime Minister on Monday evening, urging us to all stay at home. Trying to digest this news and make this the new norm can be tricky.

You may have seen our top tips for working and learning at home, but if you feel that your mental health and wellbeing is being affected by everything that’s going on, then we wanted you to know that you’re not alone - we’re in this together. So to help increase your wellbeing we’ve come up with five handy tools and tips to help you get through.

Headspace App - Free two-week trial

This great app has over 15 million users, from Olympic athletes, top executives, and celebrities (Ryan Reynolds and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans!). The creators have just released some free content and are offering a free two-week trial (but auto-renews to the annual paid subscription if you don’t cancel). Their ‘weathering the storm’ collection includes meditation techniques and exercise suggestions. Available on the app (both iPhone and Andriod) and on the website.

Yoga Studio App - Free (in-app purchases)

Yoga is an ancient exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost physical and mental wellbeing. The beauty of Yoga is that it can be done pretty much anywhere and by yourself.

Yoga Studio is a free app (available on iPhone and Android) suitable for both beginners and those more advanced. The easy-to-follow videos work on your phone or tablet which means you can practise anywhere. So whether you want to find a quiet space in your house or go out into the garden and get in touch with nature, this app will help soothe the soul and relax the mind.

April Colouring App - Free (in-app purchases)

Who said colouring is just for kids? We love this free app (iPhone and Android) which features classic ‘paint by numbers’ and is a place full of art, positive energy and good memories. There are hundreds of images to colour and the app is optimised for use with the Apple pencil. Get colouring!

Keep a diary

Take a break from technology and pick up a good old-fashioned notebook and pen to write down your feelings. This is a great way to help you track and control your emotions and understand them more clearly.

University of Rochester Medical Centre says by writing things down we can take control and have improved mental health as a result.

You could also make a bucket list of all the things you want to do when things return to normal. Think positively and look to the future.

Green fingers

Gardening isn’t just for Charlie Dimmock and the over 50s! Celebs including Zooey Deschanel, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Alba are all fans. There are plenty of benefits to having green fingers, including increased mental and emotional wellbeing, so whether you have a garden, a yard, a balcony or just some house plants, there’s no better time to give gardening a try.

Gardening is a chance to make the most of natural daylight and sunshine, which does wonders in lifting our mood. Research says that sunlight helps the body to release serotonin, hence why Vitamin D is known as the happy vitamin. Plus, creating a beautiful bed of flowers, growing your own fruit and vegetables, or keeping your house plants alive, will give you a sense of achievement and in turn, lift your mood!

We hope you’re able to try some of these tips and that they work for you. Let us know if you’ve tried them out or suggest some more!

Remember, we’re all in this together, so please keep in touch with family, friends and work colleagues - we’re sure they’d appreciate the chat.

If you feel you need some extra support, there are professional organisations, charities and support pages you can reach out to at home, including:

Young Minds charity

Mind charity