THE QUICK READ
• Routines are psychologically comforting,
so, when isolated at home, it can be
helpful to create a daily schedule similar
to the one you had when you were
working in the gym or studio
• Just as you schedule work
responsibilities, it is important to
arrange regular times for calls, video
calls and other forms of virtual
interaction with family and loved ones
• There are a number of free and
government-supported services
available if you want to connect with a
mental health professional
• If you are missing your usual sense of
purpose, you may want to explore other
ways in which you can contribute to the
wellbeing of your local community
• To avoid emotional burnout, it is vital
that you prioritise self-care.
despite having significantly more spare
time than previously, they are struggling to
achieve much. The ongoing feeling that you
simply cannot get much done anymore can
induce stress. This could be due, in part, to
a lack of routine.
There is a limit to how many decisions
we can make in a day before we start to
experience fatigue, and making on-the-fly
decisions about when to do each thing may
be causing you a lot of mental strain.
Creating a schedule similar to the one
you had when you were working in the gym
or studio could be a saving grace here.
Have a set time that you get up, eat meal
times, do your workouts, check and send
emails, make work-related calls, work on
programming and undertake any other responsibilities and duty of
care to clients you currently have.
By doing this, you need only make the decision about when you
dedicate time to these tasks once – when you set up your schedule.
From that point on, allow it to tell you what is next in the flow of your
day. This seemingly simple process can leave your mind fresher, so
you can expend that mental energy on the actual tasks that you need
to work on. Your schedule should not be limited to work, however:
also schedule self-care activities such as meditation, time in the sun,
baths or whatever helps you feel more relaxed and refreshed.
Connection
While we may not be able to go out and spend time with others in
the way that we normally would, it is vital to find ways to remain
connected to those who are important to you. While some people
require more social interaction, and others less, as a species we are
social beings and complete isolation is extremely detrimental to our
mental health. Just as you might schedule your day-to-day work
responsibilities (as per above), arrange regular times for calls, video
calls and other forms of virtual interaction with your loved ones.
There may be instances where the connection you seek is with a
mental health professional: such support is more important than ever
and is still available to you. Many psychologists and other mental
health professionals are currently offering socially distanced face-toface
appointments or virtual appointments for those who feel safer
remaining at home. Importantly, virtual appointments may not fall
under the Medicare mental health care plan, or your current financial
situation might not lend itself to seeing a psychologist.
NETWORK WINTER 2020 | 15