Mental Health on Furlough

The word 'unprecedented' has been thrown around like it's going out of fashion but that's probably because it perfectly describes the situation we are all currently in... Unprecedented. Unplanned. Unknown. 

Understandably this pandemic has led to increased levels of anxiety and stress amongst many people. More than ever, it's important to check in with our loved ones and do our best to take care of our mental health and well being. As someone who is on furlough, I wanted to share the tips I found helpful for taking care of yourself during these unprecedented times:

1) Stay connected

Social distancing means physically distancing yourself from others - not socially avoiding contact. There are plenty of ways to stay connected nowadays: Skype, Whatsapp, Facebook, etc.

My friends take it in turns to host a pub quiz every Saturday night - without working, I found the time to edit my friends' faces into movie scenes for one of my rounds!

I would also take this time to encourage older relatives to navigate the internet. My Grandma has recently downloaded Facetime and it's great for staying in touch and finding out what she needs. She hasn't quite worked out how to flip the camera though, so I spend most of our conversations talking to her sofa but we're working on it!

2) Try something new

Many people are using their newfound free time to take up a new hobby - maybe knitting, running, or painting... Personally, I've been attempting to improve my baking capabilities. For those of you with usually packed schedules, maybe your 'something new' should be taking time for yourself to just relax; I spent the whole of my Monday doing nothing except lying in the sun and reading the book for Sphere's Book Club - how often do we get a chance to do that?!

3) Look after your physical well being...

Your physical health can have a big impact on your mental health. Staying healthy by going for walks, eating well and doing regular exercise can be a great way to stay positive. Sphere's resident PT, Rich, does weekly Zoom workouts - it's a great way to stay both connected and active!

4)...But remember it's also okay to binge Netflix in bed

My social media pages are full of people encouraging followers to partake in their workouts, download fitness apps, and generally take this time for self-improvement. But for some of us, the idea of trying to get a six-pack whilst balancing the existential crisis brought on by a global pandemic is simply too much. And that's okay. Tiger King, anyone?

Natasha Chauhan
Consultant - Sphere Graduate Recruitment

Email me: natasha@spherelondon.co.uk

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If you're struggling, please reach out to someone. Here's a link to some helplines and support groups who can offer expert advice: here.