Health at Home – Top Tips

Top tips for staying at home for extended periods

We must all now stay at home to protect our community and the NHS during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. During this challenging time, it’s important to take care of your mind as well as your body.

You may feel bored, frustrated or lonely. You may also be low, worried or anxious, or concerned about your finances, your health or those close to you.

The tips and advice here are things you can do now to help support your health and wellbeing while staying at home.

  • 1. Stay connected

    Maintaining healthy relationships with people you trust is important; it could be people you usually see or reconnecting with old friends. Pick up the phone or have a conversation online via video calls or social media apps like Skype, Whatsapp, Zoom and Facetime.

    Download Apps

  • 2. Keep Active

    Physical activity has a big impact on how we feel and during a time where we are being asked to spend large amounts of time at home, staying active is more important than ever. You can exercise in your home or garden, or you can still exercise outside on your own or with your household; your support bubble; or one person from another household. Visit our Keeping Active page to explore ideas and resources to help you stay active while a home.

    Visit Keep Active

  • 3. Eat Well

    Staying at home can make it tempting to snack more often but it's important to eat healthy, well-balanced meals and drink plenty of water. Visit our Eating Healthily page for tips and resources to help you eat healthy while staying at home.

    Visit Eating Healthily

  • 4. Activate your brain

    Carry on doing things that you enjoy to help you feel less worried, anxious, lonely or low. Focus on your favourite hobby, or pick up something new such as reading, cooking, learning a new craft, mindfulness or online courses.

    Visit Future Learn

  • 5. Keep normal routines

    Think about how you can carry on your normal routines, for example set your morning alarm, eat at regular mealtimes and go to bed at the usual time. Set yourself goals to do a daily home workout, pick a regular time to clean, read, watch a TV programme or film, or cook.

    Visit Every Mind Matters

  • 6. Check your rights

    You may be worried about work and money if you have to stay home. These issues can have a big effect on your mental health. If you have not already, talk with your employer about staying at home, and learn about your sick pay and benefits rights. Knowing the details can reduce worry and help you feel more in control.

    Visit Citizens Advice

  • 7. Plan practical things

    Work out how you can get the household supplies that you need. Individuals must limit trips outside the house but can buy essentials items from supermarkets. Where possible, delivery services should be used. If you need regular medication, you might be able to order repeat prescriptions by phone or online via a website or app. If you need support with accessing these things because you are sheiling or self-isolating, you can contact the Bracknell Forest Community Response.

    Visit BF Community Response

  • 8. Stay on top of feelings

    It is quite common to feel worried, scared or helpless about the current situation. Remember, it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust, doing this could help them too. Or you could try a charity helpline or webchat. Visit our Adults Mental Wellbeing page for information, support and resources to help you look after your Mental Health while at home

    Visit Adults Mental Wellbeing

  • 9. Stay informed

    It is important to stay up to date on government information. Use trustworthy sources such as GOV.UK or the NHS website, and fact-check information from the other sources including the news or social media. Make sure you find a balance between being informed but not overwhelmed.

    Visit NHS

  • 10. The bigger picture

    Remember that these measures are in place for a limited period during this challenging and unprecedented time. The current guidance to stay at home will continue to be reviewed by the central government. In the meantime, we all have a duty to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives.

    Visit GOV.UK