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Health

06th Apr 2020

Lydia Sasse shares tips for parents on looking after wellbeing during lockdown

Melissa Carton

Some great advice.

The last few weeks have been stressful for everyone.

Home-schooling, working from home and parenting, all without being able to leave the house.

I know as a parent there have been days when it’s all become overwhelming.

Last week I started a meditation challenge (which I’ll tell you more about in another article) and it has helped a lot when it comes to maintaining my wellbeing.

Popular baby brand Sudocrem got in contact with wellness expert Lydia Sasse to find out how we can all look after our mental health during lockdown and these were her five top tips.

1. Take a movement break every day. Taking at least 15 minutes twice a day to move your body can promote positive changes in the brain that improve concentration and creativity, but also releases endorphins that lift your mood and make you feel good. This could be a simple yoga routine, some gentle tai chi or just dancing to your favourite music in the kitchen with your kids.

2. Find some time to slow down and connect to your breath. Take a few minutes every couple of hours just to place your hand on your stomach. Check that when you inhale, your belly fills with air and on exhale, your belly button is drawing back towards the spine. This can do wonders for a frazzled nervous system.

3. Create a nightly ritual before bed for better quality sleep. The actions that we take in the hours before bed can directly affect the quality of our sleep and simple changes can make a huge difference. Things like switching off electronic devices an hour before bed, using a lavender essential oil in a diffuser in your room or having a relaxing cup of chamomile tea are some of the ways we can build a pathway to a more restorative nights rest.

4. Ground yourself in nature. Get outside when you can and stand with your bare feet on the earth. You can also connect with nature when counting daisies with your children or in the quiet of the evening while you gaze at the stars. Research shows that when we are grounded, our stress hormones reduce, our sleep and circulation improves and inflammation decreases.

5. Create a gratitude journal. Make a list of things that bring you joy and do one every day. It’s such a simple task and yet it can shift your whole mindset in a short amount of time. To get started make a list of all the things big or small that bring you joy. This could be making overnight oats for your breakfast the next day, reading a favourite book or baking with your little ones.