COVID-19: 6 ways wedding professionals can look after their mental health and wellbeing during coronavirus

The evolving situation with COVID-19 is undoubtedly a highly stressful and uncertain time for everyone in the wedding industry. With the added unfamiliarity of isolation and working from home, it is more important than ever to remember to look after the mental health and wellbeing of our colleagues, friends, family and of course, our own!

Bridebook have put together 6 top tips for everyone working remotely, isolating or just finding the situation a bit difficult. We hope they help you and your team keep clear-minded and positive during these tough times. 

1. Keep your body active, and mind calm.

It is well-known that keeping physically active is crucial for mental wellbeing, particularly now more than ever. Many brilliant gyms are live-streaming free online workouts you can join throughout the day, such as Barry’s Bootcamp, 1Rebel & F45. If you prefer a lower impact workout, there are many brilliant online yoga or pilates classes available (we love Yoga with Adrienne). Starting and/or ending your day with some meditation or mindfulness is a brilliant way to de-stress, re-centre and clear your mind. Apps such as Headspace & Calm are excellent (free!) guided meditations. Give it a try and within a few days, you’ll notice the difference.

2. Get some fresh air when you can

As of 23rd March, we are only allowed out of the house for exercise once a day. It is vital to make the absolute most of this time; fresh air is key to mental well-being and helps reset a frantic mind. Our recommendations on how to use this time are:

• Before work, instead of the morning commute, take a brisk walk / run round the block.
• If you have an outdoor space at home, simply have your morning coffee in the garden.  
• During the lunch break, walk the dog (if you have one) or take a stroll on your own or with the kids. Leisurely outdoor walks help to ‘clear the cobwebs’ and reduce any stress or anxiety you may have.

3. Relax and de-stress after work

Now more than ever, you must remember to look after yourself. Whether this is indulging in self-care with a face mask and a hot bath, or just sitting down for an uninterrupted dinner with your loved ones, don’t de-prioritise it. 

Use these extra hours after work to give time to your hobbies, whatever they may be. From painting, gardening, playing with a pet, playing an instrument…do whatever keeps a smile on your face.

4. Put some music on and have a boogie!

Many people are keeping spirits high during isolation by simply putting some good music on and dancing it out. Whilst this may sound like nonsense, research shows that dancing actually improves brain function and boosts memory! It also makes us happy, releasing more serotonin levels into our body. 

Music streaming services such as Spotify and Youtube also have hundreds of ‘productivity work playlists’ available, if music helps you focus whilst you work.

5. Keep a routine

One of the biggest pieces of advice during this lockdown period is to structure your days. Try and keep your morning and bedtime routine as close to normal as possible, to ensure your body and mind remain in sync and as efficient as possible. If you find you have more ‘downtime’ than usual, make a list of all the things you have been putting off that you can get round to now. We will be sharing some more information about being productive in quarantine soon!

6. Cocktail hours & Netflix parties!

Why not introduce a fun activity like end of day / week  ‘cocktail hours’ for your team! Everyone makes their favourite cocktails and has a good ol’ chinwag on a video call. A great way to end the day and stay connected with your colleagues / friends. You could also join over 1,000,000 people and have a Netflix party. Link up with the team and host long distance movie nights and even TV watching parties. A team bonding activity ideal for a weekday evening.

We hope that these top tips will help you and your team balance your mental and physical well-being through these strange times. For more activity ideas, take a look at our fun things to do in quarantine series. As ever, Bridebook is here to support you to the very best of our abilities, so do reach out if you want to chat to a member of the team. The UK Wedding Venues Slack group is a hugely valuable source of community and support, with nearly 700 active members, which you can join here. We will get through this, together.