6/03/2023Our School App Stay connected on the go...
Emotional Well-being
Emotional Well-being at Home
Life has changed so I am changing with it
Any kind of change, even when it is for the better, can be accompanied by some discomfort, anxiety and fear. It’s ok to feel disorientated at the start, but with a little time and the right attitude, we can adapt, learn new ways to live and do so with a smile. We’re amazing like that.
So where do we start? Here are my top 5 tips to help you keep happy and positive:
1. Stay Connected
As social beings, it is important for us humans to have contact with others to maintain a positive sense of wellbeing. So, call your friends or extended family members. They’ll be equally uplifted to hear from you.
Don’t be shy about being on camera, people will love to see you! Face to face contact is even better and gives us a great boost. While we can’t be physically near others, make video calls if you have this facility. There are loads of free apps out there.
Reach out if you’re feeling down, worried or just bored and frustrated. You are not alone!
2. Stay Productive
When your daily routine is disrupted it can be stressful. It’s easy to find yourself 
demotivated and not getting very much done. Planning and completing tasks you have set for yourself can give you a sense of accomplishment which is fantastic for staying happy and calm.
You could make a list of all the things you want to achieve during your time at home. This could include things like reorganising your wardrobe and bedroom; helping with the gardening, cooking or DIY jobs; writing a song or a play; planning your dream holiday or an art project.
3. Stay Chilled
In such new and changeable times it is understandable to experience negative or anxious thoughts running through your mind. Taking a break from everything and quietening these thoughts is important when looking after your mental health.
Reduce exposure to causes of negativity by cleaning up your social media accounts, deleting, blocking or muting anything that makes you feel angry, unhappy or stressed in any way. Avoid checking the news regularly and only use reputable sources for information.
Do calming activities such as colouring, listening to music, singing, reading a book; whatever makes you feel peaceful. Practising mindfulness is a great way to relax your mind by simply focusing on your breathing, your body or your senses.
Make sure you take some time out to consciously relax every day. Even just 5 minutes daily, can have an amazing effect on you.
Bonus tip: Being ‘locked down’ in the house with your family can become tense and arguments among household members are normal. If a situation becomes particularly heated, walk away from it and give yourself and others time to calm down. If things at home become difficult make sure to speak to someone you trust – a friend, a family member or a school staff contact. See the support information for further help.
4. Stay Kind
It is likely that people you know are also feeling stressed out at the moment. Being kind
to others is not just nice for them, it also boosts your own levels of happiness. We all thrive from love and compassion. So, try to perform an act of kindness every day.
This could just be passing on wellbeing advice to your friends or family or listening, without judgement, to their concerns or feelings.
Your parents or carers may be worrying about money, their work and everyone’s safety and this can increase their stress levels. Help out where possible, make someone a cup of tea; complete chores without being asked; help a sibling with school work or just keep them entertained for a while.
5. Stay Positive
As the novelty and excitement of being at home wears off, you may start to find your general mood can begin to slump and you focus more and more on your negative thoughts and feelings.
Continuing to consciously experience positive thoughts and emotions are vital in helping us cope when times are difficult. This sometimes means you have to actively look for feelings such as joy, gratitude, contentment and pride.
Take a few moments every day to think about 3 good things – big or small, it doesn’t matter. Such as, something or someone that made you smile; something you can be proud of (e.g. your strengths and values or a personal achievement - maybe you carried out some of the tips above); something or someone you’re grateful for having in your life (e.g. your health, your home, your games console, a great sandwich you ate etc.). Perhaps you could write a list, keep a gratitude diary, make a jar and put little notes inside to look at and remind yourself of the good stuff. Or simply make a point of noticing these things when they happen and take time to enjoy them.
Embrace the new ‘normal’ and make it work for you
