LifeLink: Stay home, stay safe and look after your mental and physical health

The LifeLink team at West Suffolk Council are encouraging residents to take steps to look after their mental and physical health while at home during the Covid19 crisis.

While the vast majority of residents – including the LifeLink team – are following the national guidance and staying home and staying safe, the changes to daily life that the restrictions bring will understandably cause stress and anxiety as well as challenges to people’s exercise regime.

The social prescribing team at West Suffolk LifeLink have compiled a list of top ten tips to help people at home during the coming months. These include:

  • Regularly phone, instant message or video chat with other people who you would normally meet with. Consider setting up a virtual book club or film club to give you more to talk about
  • Enjoy the simple things such as reading, watching films and listening to music
  • There are different hobbies that you can do to relax and reduce feelings of anxiety at home. These include drawing, painting, collage, sewing and craft kits.  Playing musical instruments, singing, listening to music, writing, yoga, meditation and mindfulness are also good methods for balancing your sense of wellbeing
  • If you can, get on with that DIY
  • If you can work from home. It’s a good way for trying to maintain some sense of normality
  • Sticking to your usual sleeping patterns. It’s beneficial for your physical health and as a way of keeping stress levels in check
  • Keep an eye on how much you are eating, as insecurities can lead to bingeing
  • Exercise will also reduce stress. Dancing to music, cleaning your home, seated exercises or online workouts all count
  • Sunlight, fresh air and nature can all lift our spirits. If you have a garden, try to get out in it as much as the weather will allow (But make sure you put your sun cream on to protect yourselves)
  • Never ignore your mental health. If your mental health is getting worse contact your GP, they should be able to offer you a telephone appointment to discuss ways to cope. You can also contact The Samaritans and Suffolk Mind.

Leader of West Suffolk Council Cllr John Griffiths said: “Everyone must surely now know that we need to follow the Government’s instructions to stay safe. But it is also important that we look after our own mental and physical wellbeing at home to help us cope with the weeks and months ahead. These tips may not seem like much, but they are coping mechanisms designed to help keep our spirits up, something that is important not just now while overcoming this crisis, but for after as we recover as a society.”

The LifeLink team has created a webpage which links to other sources of help and support that are available. Visit https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/community/lifelink/covid-19-information-and-wellbeing-guide.cfm