Staying well and supporting others

If you feel worried, anxious or low, you might stop doing things you usually enjoy. Focusing on your favourite hobby or connecting with others can help with anxious thoughts and feelings. 

If you cannot do the things you normally enjoy, think about how you could adapt them, or try something new. 

Research has shown that there are six ways to wellbeing. Have a think about what you like doing in relation to each of the six ways: 

• Be Active
• Keep Learning
• Give
• Connect
• Take Notice
• Care for the Planet

You can find out more on the Live Well Kent website www.livewellkent.org.uk/six-ways-wellbeing

• What can you do every day to keep yourself feeling well?
• What about things that you can do once in a while? 
• May be there is something that needs planning in advance to give you something to look forward to?

We all have our bad habits, things that we know we should try and avoid if we can.

Some things to avoid might be:

• Focusing on negatives 
• Being alone all day 
• Smoking, drinking, drugs 
• Keeping things to myself 
• Watching too much news
• Being too hard on myself 
• Looking at my phone all day
• Not having a routine.

What could you try to avoid which would help you? 

Sometimes identifying the one thing that you are most worried about can help by clarifying what your priority should be. Even if you can’t solve the problem entirely, taking little actions may make you feel better 
What is the one thing you are most worried about? 

Some things that might be a worry:

• Catching coronavirus 
• Relationship breakdown 
• Work stress 
• Money worries 

Is there something you can do to reduce its impact? 

Some things that might help:

• Taking sensible precautions and reducing unnecessary contacts
• Talk about how you are feeling with a trusted friend or family member
• Speak to your line manager or occupational health team  
• Get in touch with Citizens Advice  

Some people are able to recognise when they are starting to struggle and can take actions to keep themselves well.

Do you have any early warning signs that you recognise in yourself? If so, what are they?

Some things that might be happening:

• Losing interest 
• Neglecting appearance 
• Isolating myself 
• Feeling unable to cope 
• Feeling low, angry, stressed
• Sleeping excessively / unable to sleep.   
   

It’s always good to talk, but if you can see the warning signs, and feel that things are going to get worse for you, then it’s even more important to talk and reach out for help. 

Do you know where can you turn? Would you talk to a family member, friend, colleague, helpline or doctor? 

Some people you can talk to:

•    Friends
•    Family 
•    Colleagues
•    Release the Pressure 24-hour text or phone line.