It is well known that boredom can contribute to feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness. LETSS peer workers have come up with 5 strategies that may help you to cope should you need to isolate. 

• 1. Maintain a Routine 

As much as possible, maintain a routine each day. Shower when you usually would, and eat when you usually would. Most importantly, get dressed out of your pyjamas every day! If you get into proper clothes, you feel like you're day has started and that you have important things to do, and you do have important things to do! 

• 2. Achieve Something Everyday 

No matter what the task, set yourself something to achieve every day. It might be doing the dishes, cleaning out a cupboard, or calling a friend. A sense of achievement helps us to feel like we are doing something meaningful. Keep doing meaningful activities every day and it won't feel like a waste of time!

• 3. Write About Your Experience 

Writing about what has been going on, can help us to feel like we are talking to someone and sharing our experiences with someone. You might write a daily journal of how you're feeling or what tasks you did, or you might even post an online blog telling the world about how you're going! You might even find other journals or blogs to read of people going through the same thing. When we find others having a similar experience, it helps us feel less alone. 

• 4. Keep Connected Socially 

This one is especially important if you are at home on your own. Organise Skype calls with friends and family, find a Facebook group to follow that lifts your spirits, create a Whatsapp or messenger group to check on each other or participate in an online forum or discussion board. The more ways that you can communicate the better! Play knocking games on the wall with your neighbours! Get creative. 

• 5. Reach Out For Support 

Ultimately, it's going to be a difficult time for anyone and it's important to reach out for support if you need it. If you're feeling suicidal and really not coping, call Mental Health Triage or Emergency. If you're feeling safe but you are in distress and need to talk things through, call LETSS and chat with our peer workers. Let's all band together and get through this!!!  

Photo by Bohdan Maylove on Unsplash