Following the announcement of England’s lockdown, we have compiled an article which we hope will help you to look after yourself.
It is important to look after yourself all year round, but with the increased uncertainties we are all facing, we have compiled a series of resources that we hope will help you, your friends and employees.
Tips for Day-to-Day:
Stylist recommends the following:
- Write a list of the things you want to prioritise
- Make a simple list of things you’d like to enjoy, and make a priority during this period as a way to focus your mind
- Practise gratitude
- “Write a gratitude journal and record what you are grateful for during the day – what made you smile and what made you happy,” Armitage says. “Bringing your focus onto what has made you happy can improve your mental wellbeing.”
- Focus on what you can control
- “Try to focus on what is within your control and try to adapt your life so that it won’t be affected by external changes too much. This will enable you to grasp a sense of stability which is important for positive mental wellbeing.”
- Establish a healthy routine
- “I would advise that people follow the advice that was given throughout the first lockdown including creating a routine, always getting up and dressed in the morning, going out for a walk or participating in some form of exercise once a day and creating a suitable space to work from to maintain work/life boundaries within the home,” Armitage suggests.
- Do the things which make you happy
- Examples: baking, arts + crafts, reading, doing an online course
- Identify and limit behaviours you find triggering
- Examples: limit your social media use, limit the time you spend each day checking the news
The Lions Barber Collective:
Advisory Board Member Tom Chapman is the founder of the Lions Barber Collective, an international collection of top barbers which have come together to help raise awareness for the prevention of suicide.
As barbers we are in a unique position to help our clients, through the trust and bond we build with them. An incredibly strong relationship where clients become friends and can share aspect of their lives with us, then walk out the shop and leave it behind knowing it goes no further because of client confidentiality and the fact we are often not in their social circle.
The Lions Barber Collective offer the following:
- BarberTalk: The idea is not to make barbers into counsellors or psychiatrists but with the aid of our four pillars of BarberTalk, RECOGNISE, ASK, LISTEN and HELP we can bridge the gap between the communities we serve and the resources that are available while providing a safe non-judgemental safe space to share, open up and or offload.
- Online training via BarberTalk Lite: The idea behind BarberTalk Lite is being able to raise awareness within as many barbershops as possible to create as many safe barbershops across the globe. By giving people the opportunity to do an alternative to the BarberTalk training via our website, enables us to reach more barbers and make a difference in the locations we may not be able to visit to deliver the full BarberTalk course.
Resources Available for Hair and Beauty Professionals:
NHBF: THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUR SALON OR BARBERSHOP BUSINESS
Salons Direct: Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing in your Salon
Professional Beauty: Beauty Salon and Spa Owners: Managing Your Mental Health
Mental Health Resources:
Mental Health Foundation: Mental Health Tips
NHS Every Mind Matters: Mental Wellbeing While Staying at Home
Mind: Coronavirus and Your Wellbeing
Samaritans: Mental Health and Coronavirus
MyTutor: Teen Mental Health – A Guide For Parents
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with their mental health, you can find support and resources on the Mind’s website, and NHS Every Mind Matters, or access the NHS’ list of mental health helplines and organisations here.
For confidential support, you can also call the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
