20 January 2021

5 ways digital self-care can help get us through lockdown

20 January 2021

With social distancing, financial fears and the health of loved ones weighing heavy on our minds, it’s never been more important to prioritise your mental wellbeing.

But when you’re stuck at home – and gyms, pools, friends’ houses and other resources we usually rely on are off limits – where can you turn?

Thanks to technology, we’re no longer limited to face-to-face appointments for therapy and support, plus there’s a wealth of digital self-care tools out there, which you can access without having to leave the house.

From shrinks you can stream, to digital sound healing sessions, that all-important calm might be just a few clicks away…

1. Get your symptoms checked with a digital doctor

Young woman using smartphone for video call

During the pandemic, it can be hard to know what to do if you’re unwell or have a health concern that isn’t related to Covid-19. It’s really important to seek medical advice if you need it though – and digital doctor appointments can be very handy. Push Doctor (pushdoctor.com) is an app and website that offers online consultations, giving you quick, easy and convenient access to GPs.

Push Doctor has teamed up with select NHS surgeries across the UK, meaning some patients can access the service for free – but if you aren’t registered with a partnered surgery, you can still access a doctor through their paid service (check their website for prices).

Babylon (babylonhealth.com) is another digital service that allows you to talk to a doctor at any time from your phone, giving you night and day access to medical expertise. Through the platform, you can get prescriptions sent to a pharmacy, view your clinical records, and get connected to a range of experts including therapists and specialists.

2. Get a sweat on with home workouts

There’s no shortage of online fitness platforms these days, but the amount of choice on offer can be overwhelming. If you’re just starting out on your fitness journey, check out FIIT (fiit.tv). Dubbed by some as the ‘Netflix for fitness’, it offers access to a huge variety of video-led workouts with some of the best trainers in the country, all for £10 a month.

TODO: define component type factbox

Meanwhile, Frame’s On Demand classes (moveyourframe.com) are great for feel-good workouts on days when you’re not feeling your best. You can beam the boutique London studio’s classes straight into your home for as little as £6 per month. Some of our favourite workouts include 90s dance cardio and burny barre.

3. Find spiritual healing with online workshops

Sound Therapy with Tibetan Singing Bowl

If you’re struggling with stress, try tuning into a gong bath – an immersive sound experience that’s said to soothe anxiety and calm the mind into a meditative state.

Gong (aboutgong.com) are one of the leading online services, offering sound baths and gong baths via Zoom. Classes can be purchased online and they currently have an intro offer where you can buy three classes for £16, as well as monthly memberships.

If tarot is your bag, or you’re simply curious to give it a go, Psychic Sisters (psychicsisters.co.uk) can give you a personal card reading over Skype (from £60 per half-hour session). The clairvoyants, who are usually based in Selfridges, boast a long list of celebrity clients, including founder Jayne Wallace’s personal clients Kim Kardashian and Larry King.

4. Find your mojo with life coaching

Online Tutoring Concept. Smiling black female tutor having video call with student

Life coaching could help you work on your own business, pick apart what you want from your career, and even figure out patterns in your personal relationships. By honing in on your skills and goals, life coaches can assist you in setting clear action plans, and may be particularly helpful if you feel like you’re losing motivation while working from home.

A life coach is a pricey investment, but if you’re already saving money on your monthly commute while working from home, you might want to consider funnelling the money back into something productive. Some of the UK’s leading life coaches, who are offering sessions over Zoom, include Nick Hatter (nickhatter.com), Liz Goodchild (lizgoodchild.co.uk) and Michael Serwa (michaelserwa.com).

5. Relax and de-stress with meditation

If you’re looking for an introduction to meditation, Calm (calm.com) is the place to start. The popular mindfulness app has a vast library of guided mindfulness programmes designed to help with some common lockdown mental health issues – from managing stress and anxiety, to improving disrupted sleep.

TODO: define component type factbox

The meditations are designed to fit in to all kinds of schedules, so whether you’ve got half-an-hour in the mornings, or just three minutes to spare between Zoom meetings, you’ll always be able to squeeze some breathing space into your day.

Netflix (netflix.com) has also just launched its first meditation series in partnership with Headspace. The Headspace Guide To Meditation includes eight bite-sized episodes that give listeners an introduction to different methods of meditation, and how you can make them a regular part of your life.

Voiced by Headspace founder Andy Puddicombe, the animated show looks at how we can use various techniques in meditation to help with managing stress, coping with pain and learning to love life – even in the midst of a national lockdown.

The best videos delivered daily

Watch the stories that matter, right from your inbox