Christmas time – ah, the Satsuma’s and the cinnamon, snowballs and tinsel, a time for remembering the love of family and friends. But have you ever wondered why we do some of the things we do at Christmas? Why do we eat Christmas pudding and mince pies? Why do we send cards and are they just as popular as ever?
Most human beings are social animals so being forced to stay away from others, especially during the winter months, can be hard to bear.
If you have been asked to work remotely, it could be argued that this is good for mental health as it can give some structure to your day, as long as you are disciplined about the hours you work.
However, there are some things that you can do that could make it all more bearable whether you are working or not.
Sunlight is good for your mental health. So, when choosing where to work at home, try to put your workspace near a window. Make sure you can draw the curtains back fully and clean the windows, inside and out. Perhaps use a strategically placed mirror to bounce light around the room.
Clutter can add to your stress levels by increasing your level of cortisol. Have a proper clear out, get organised, and get some proper storage if you can.
Couple taking a winter walk
Build some physical activity, preferably in the fresh air, into your day. The danger of lockdown is that even those activities, like walking to the bus or train station, are not happening, dramatically reducing physical activity.
Plants in the home can also make a difference by reducing blood pressure, anxiety, stress and rumination (endlessly going over the same thoughts) Their presence can also improve attention, memory and sleep.
Take care of your physical health by eating healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water and exercise regularly. Avoid smoking, drugs or drinking too much alcohol. It can make a difference to your mental health too.
Perhaps take up a new activity or hobby that you have previously not had time for. Read, write, do crosswords or jigsaws, bake, or try drawing and painting, or take an online course to learn something new. Whatever it is, find something that works for you.
Many of us will be aware of the Danny Boyle/Richard Curtis movie ‘Yesterday’ recently shot in Suffolk, but did you know the county has a long history of featuring in novels too?
Here’s a selection:
The UK Abolition of Slavery Act became law on 25th March, 1807, but did you know that a number of streets in Ipswich were named in recognition of the most prominent campaigners?
We have all had our lives changed or disrupted due to the Coronavirus outbreak and particularly so when it comes to working or running a business.
If you visit any shop now, you are likely to find sanitisation stations at every entrance so that
Our Bury St Edmunds branch has given the St Nicholas Hospice free storage for its furniture as it has had to introduce measures to ensure safe social distancing for staff during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The latest research carried out for the Self-Storage Association in 2020 has some interesting insights into the self-storage business in the UK.
As offices re-open following the lockdown, they have had to install safety measures to protect those staff who need to come into the office and who therefore cannot continue to work remotely.
