Keep healthy at home

The UK has been under lockdown for over five weeks now and we know this is a stressful and anxious time for many of us. In this newsletter, we're sharing ways to keep fit at home, how to look after your mental health and manage conflict.

Healthy relationships and conflict resolution at home

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents us all with huge challenges in protecting ourselves and our families and it’s important to stay at home at the moment. But over long periods of time, this can put a strain on relationships and might lead to arguments.

Here are some tips to help you reduce anxiety and stress at home:

• Pause – is a disagreement escalating to a point where you are no longer in control and you are just reacting? If so, take a breath and re-assess the situation.
• Think – try to reflect on why an argument started. Ask yourself how you were feeling before the conversation started and whether you were already feeling anxious or tense.
• Resolve it – take a step back. Is this argument about something important, or can you come back to it when you are both calmer?

Fill out a healthy relationship questionnaire to  help you consider your relationship with your partner and the strengths and challenges you may face by visiting the Livewell website. 

Every Family Matters- keeping your child safe online

As a parent or carer, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest online trends, particularly when it comes to social media platforms, or to stay up-to-date with what your child is doing online. However, there are lots of steps you can take to keep them safe.

• Start by having a conversation with your child and ask them to show you what they’re using the internet for and who they are talking to. You can also use this conversation as a chance to explain some of the risks and encourage them to share any concerns they might have about anything they’ve seen, or anyone they’ve spoken to.
• You can also set-up parental controls to help restrict the potential for young people to be targeted by perpetrators. This can include changing the settings on online games and social media accounts to private.

Remember, every family matters and if you need support right now, visit the Staying Well Children and Families page on Essex County Council's website to find out more about how they can help you help your child stay safe online.

Visit the livewell website for more links to advice and guidance around children's mental health support 

Look after your mental wellbeing while at home

These are unprecedented times. Taking care of our own health and wellbeing can be the first thing to slide when we’re focused on taking care of patients, friends, family and loved ones.

Staying at home for a prolonged period can be difficult, frustrating and lonely for some people and that you or other household members may feel low. It can be particularly challenging if you don’t have much space or access to a garden. It’s important to remember to take care of your mind as well as your body and to get support if you need it.

See Livewell's 7 Steps to Wellbeing to look after your mental health while at home.

Free live home workouts

Active Essex is supporting people in staying active safely during lockdown with the “Keep Essex Active” campaign, with over 50 ideas and resources for you to stay well and active at home. They have also launched  an exciting new livestream YouTube channel which features live and FREE online workouts throughout the day. 

The live sessions are delivered by top instructors from Essex, featuring a range of activities to suit everyone ranging from high-intensive to Yoga to seated exercise to football drills and karate.  The daily live sessions also include sessions in meditation, breathing, and personal wellbeing.  The livestream videos will be saved on the YouTube channel if you were unable to make the session. 

Working from home? 

It is important to make sure your work station at home is set up correctly, to avoid hurting your back or eyes.

Here are some simple steps that you can take to reduce the risks from display screen work:

• break up long spells of computer work with rest breaks (at least 5 minutes every hour) or changes in activity
• avoid awkward, static postures by regularly changing position
• get up and get moving or do stretching exercises
  avoiding eye fatigue by changing focus

Release tension in your limbs with this quick seated yoga routine which you can do throughout the day. Perform each move slowly and smoothly, and breathe deeply and regularly.