Switching off and giving some time to yourself to do the things you enjoy doing is so important in looking after your mental wellbeing. Simple activities like being creative, learning something new, spending time in nature or practising relaxation, can help to restore and revive our spirits and help us to keep ourselves well.
With everything that we all have going on in our lives, be it looking after children, working, managing the home, or caring for elderly relatives it can be really hard to find the time for ourselves. Making a plan that includes this time for self-care can really help with your overall wellbeing. Having a scheduled time dedicated to ourselves will help us to feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
So make sure to carve out some time to engage in an activity that you enjoy and that will allow you to be distracted from what is going on around you.
Rewarding reads is a new campaign from Libraries Ireland and Creative Ireland that is celebrating irish writers and encouraging people of all ages to discover the joy or reading. Libraries have a wealth of books for all ages and interests as well as online library services including free access to eBooks and audiobooks. Join online at librariesireland.ie/join or by contacting your local library.
COVID care concerts are a new initiative developed by Mobile Music Machine and supported by the Creative Ireland Programme and Healthy Ireland. This series involves some of Ireland’s finest classical musicians and opera singers presenting live, outdoor socially distanced concerts in the gardens and grounds of residential care homes and hospital settings across Ireland.
The Design & Crafts Council Ireland have developed Christmas crafts, a series of creative activities and projects to promote well-being and resilience during the COVID-19 crisis. 45 Guilds, Associations, Networks and Societies (GANS) throughout Ireland, will develop creative content for a series of community and online activities. Check out the Keep Well page on their website for more tips and ideas.
Week planner
Try this week planner to help you with some of the tips mentioned in the page above
DownloadThere is a strong connection between being creative and improved mental wellbeing.
Now that more of our time will be spent at home, it is a great opportunity to pick up an old hobby or start a new one. Doing something creative can not only help you to develop new skills but can also improve your self-esteem and social connections.
Creative Ireland is working with Local Authorities to offer localised creative initiatives in their areas. These initiatives may include:
Contact your Local Authority for more information on what will be happening in your area.
The Design and Crafts Council Ireland YouTube channel has many step-by-step interactive workshops and short video tutorials in their Get Ireland Making Programme.
On this channel you can:
Reading and writing stories is a great way to distract yourself from all that is going on around you. Immersing yourself in a story, or creating a story of your own can help you to relax and de-stress during these challenging times.
Being outdoors can help to reduce anxiety, improve your mood and even increase your self-esteem. Spending quality time in nature is a great way to improve your mental wellbeing and help you to keep well.
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