Top tips for starting your day right from the Togetherall Team

 

Since March 2020, our lives have radically changed. We stopped seeing friends and spent most our time between the four walls of our house. Some of us might have found new hobbies; from baking to quizzing with friends on Zoom, but still many of us have found it difficult to cope.

According to the Office for National Statistics, in adults, the proportion of individuals showing symptoms of depression has almost doubled since the start of the pandemic, with stress, anxiety and worry about the future being the top three reasons driving mental health problems.

 

Building routine into your daily life can be grounding, and one way to help improve your mental health. Our partners at Togetherall have created some tips on how to start (and finish) your day:

 

1. Start your day with a nutritious breakfast and some exercise

Eating healthy will make you feel better in yourself physically and mentally. Drink a cup of green tea followed by a nice and nutritious breakfast to kick start your day. This will give you the energy to power through your morning. Having an exercise plan with realistic goals and sticking to it, it’s also very important. Get out in the morning or during daylight to get some fresh air. Whether it is walking the dog, running, or stretching in the garden, break away from the screen for at least three minutes every hour.

 

2. Build routines

Fight the desire to stay in bed later and treat your day as a normal university day. This includes pretending to commute to university. Use the time you used to take for commuting to exercise or listen to a podcast, so you are starting the day fresh and motivated. Set up your day with a desk-style set up (even if you are at the kitchen table) that gives some replication of being at university. At the end of the day, build in a routine to ensure down time and good sleep.

During the weekend try to do an outdoor activity – picking up all the face masks dropped on the street can be beneficial for both your health and the community.

 

3. Pamper yourself

We are going through a tough time, so it’s good and beneficial to do something a little extra for yourself that you wouldn’t usually do. This could be as little as having a bubble bath or lighting a scented candle before you start your day. Try to incorporate little things that make you face the day with a smile.

 

4. Connect with others

We are all lacking connection with others nowadays, but also what we talk about when we connect has become limited as our lives can feel more monotonous. So, plan calls and conversations to cover topics that feel more ‘normal’, such as agree to watch a tv series or start a book club.

The Togetherall community is a good place to share how you are feeling without fear of judgement, but also to help and connect with others like you. The Togetherall community is completely anonymous and available 24/7, so you can give and receive support any time, any place. It is also monitored by mental health practitioners, meaning you can get professional advice and encouragement.

 

5. Celebrate small achievements

Every achievement, regardless of its size, deserves a reward. Try to practice some gratitude when you wake up. This could be appreciating the sleep you just had or being grateful for a healthy meal. You can write all your achievements – whether big or small they are – in the journal tool within ‘Resources’ on Togetherall or use the goal setter. Get in the habit of celebrating each small success. Your little wins add up to big things.

 

Did you know that you have FREE access to Togetherall mental health support? Togetherall is a safe, anonymous online community where you can connect with others & share how you’re feeling. You can get support, or you can support others. Join Togetherall today https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/student