It’s very challenging being told to stay inside, and minimise our contact with the outside world. Not only does it leave most of us feeling vulnerable, but it is also easy to let our minds and bodies slide into a downhill spiral. Instead of letting this happen, we have found that a few key things keep us feeling positive and our bodies active and ready to embrace life on the other side!

1. Stay connected

Use technology to stay connected to the people that you might not be able to see in person. If you have an iPhone or iPad, we recommend you use FaceTime to arrange video calls with friends and family members. Otherwise WhatsAp offer video calls among a number of other platforms too. Talk to your friends and family about what they are using to choose the one that might be best for you to stay connected. If in doubt on how to set this up on your own device, try a simple Google search such as “how to use WhatsAp video call” or “how to use FaceTime” for easy step-by-step instructions.

2. Keep Active

Can you still manage to get out into the fresh air for a gentle walk? If not, have a creative think about how to stay active inside your home. Be sure to listen to your body and do what feels right. Could you do a daily movement class virtually with friends to stretch out those muscles, or perhaps set yourself a small goal such as standing and sitting from a chair in your house 5 times? Why not have a browse on YouTube for something that appeals to you which you can watch from home? Try out “gentle yoga moves for Seniors” or “home exercise for Seniors” and browse through the myriad options out there for something that feels good for your body.

3. Build a daily Routine

When being confined to the home, it’s very easy for the days to become a blur and that’s when our mood and motivation tends to drop. The best strategy for this is to create a routine for your day. Include things such as gentle exercise, connecting with friends over technology and time to work on a long-term project. Whether it’s gardening, working on a big puzzle or creative project, a long-term project is a great way to keep yourself busy and stimulated.

4. Enjoy Humour

The world around us can feel worrying and it’s easy to let our anxieties and concerns overwhelm us. Our tip is to find some way to release the tension with a bit of a laugh. Whether it be sending a joke to a friend or sharing some funny videos, humour is a great antidote to help through these troubling times.

5. Practice Gratitude

The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. “People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they’re thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems.”* Perhaps take the time to write one thing you feel grateful for each day on a piece of paper or in a journal. Or why not discuss it with your partner or a friend over the phone each day. It’s a great way to hold yourself accountable to this daily practice.