Coronavirus lockdown survival guide

It is a worrying and anxious time for everyone. We have put together a ‘lockdown survival guide’ packed with practical tips to help you adjust to life at home and look after your mental health and wellbeing.

Build a routine – Try to maintain a sense of normality and stick to your normal routines of getting up, eating and going to bed at the usual times.

Keep busy – Make a daily schedule of different activities and tasks to keep you busy. Don’t sit on the sofa all day watching television. Keep your mind active by doing a variety of activities throughout the day like telephoning or video-calling friends and family, cooking, reading, gardening, playing games or puzzles, arts and crafts, exercise, cleaning, listening to the radio or surfing the internet.

Try something new – Take the opportunity of having extra time on your hands to learn a new skill. Now is the perfect time to learn a language, take up knitting, try new recipes, do that DIY job you’ve been putting off, or spring clean your home.

Mental health support is available – If you’re feeling anxious about staying at home there are useful online tools to help you cope. Mental health charity Mind has lots of useful advice about staying at home and keeping well during the lockdown.

Keep active – Maintaining an exercise routine is very important for mental health. Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you can’t keep active. There are lots of free exercise videos online for all ages and abilities that you can follow at home without any equipment needed. Try the gentle, seated exercises on the NHS website to help improve your mobility and keep you active.

Stay in touch – Keeping in contact with friends, family, neighbours and anyone you're concerned about who might be vulnerable is key, especially for those who live alone. If you haven’t got a smartphone, laptop or tablet to make video calls, just use the old-fashioned telephone instead.

Keep a healthy diet – Going to the shops less frequently means we have to think about what we eat. If you can’t buy fresh fruit and vegetables, opt for tinned or frozen goods to make sure you’re eating a balanced diet.

Avoid an information overload – 24-hour news coverage can feel overwhelming, and listening to reports on coronavirus all day can add to feelings of anxiety and depression. Experts suggest setting yourself a time to watch or listen to the news once a day to help maintain a balance between your daily routine and keeping abreast of the situation, while protecting your mental health.

You can read the latest information and regular updates on the local situation on our dedicated webpage. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for real-time information.