The COVID-19 pandemic means that many of us are staying at home and doing less in terms of social interactions and exercise. This can have a negative effect on your physical and mental health. The World Health Organisation is providing advice to help you and your family to stay healthy at home during this period of confinement.
1. Stay Physically Active
It’s very important for people of all ages and abilities to be as active as possible. WHO’s Be Active campaign aims to help you do just that – and to have some fun at the same time.
2. Looking After Our Mental Health
The new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues take time to get used to. Adapting to lifestyle changes such as these, and managing the fear of contracting the virus and worry about people close to us who are particularly vulnerable, are challenging for all of us. They can be particularly difficult for people with mental health conditions.
Fortunately, there are lots of things that we can do to look after our own mental health and to help others who may need some extra support and care.
3. Quitting Tobacco
Smokers have a higher risk of getting coronavirus because they are constantly putting their hands to their lips. And then, if they get coronavirus, they run a greater risk of getting a severe case because their lung function is impaired. Quit today to reduce these risks and start living a healthier life.
4. Healthy Parenting
Some children and young people may be feeling more isolated, anxious, bored and uncertain.They may feel fear, and grief, over the impact of the virus on their families. Working with our partners, WHO will bring you content to help open the world of isolation. Watch out for resources and ideas to support parents and projects that will engage children in understanding the coronavirus, the challenges it brings to their world and what can be done to protect them.
Access to all these resources here