Your Post-Covid Health Plan

Recovering from COVID-19 and it’s taking a while? Or you’ve avoided the virus but feel anxious about returning to normal? Here’s everything you need to know to keep safe and healthy

- Tanya Pearey.

As the country, and more of the world, starts opening up again, it’s not necessarily a return to business as usual for many of us. Because, after more than a year of living with the pandemic, and the uncertainty that the virus and lockdown restrictions bring, we may find ourselves feeling anxious about a return to ‘normal’, or still struggling with the after-effects of having caught the virus or its impact on those we love.

This reaction is totally understandable, says psychologist Professor Margareta James, founding director at the Harley Street Wellbeing Clinic (harleystreetwellbeingclinic.co.uk). ‘Our routine is about to change and uncertainty can cause stress,’ she explains.

Her advice is to take a phased return. ‘You could ease yourself into the normality of everyday life returning by starting slowly, for example, going to the shops when they’re less busy – they’ll be open for longer, so that will help with avoiding crowded places.’ There are also lots of other ways to relieve your anxiety, build immunity and cope with the after-effects of the virus.

Build immunity

Keeping your immune system strong will help you fight infection, says immunologist Dr Ross Walton, clinical researcher and founder of A-IR (a-ircr. com). And that’s important even after being vaccinated.

‘Try to eat a broad and varied diet, do routine exercise, take appropriate rest and pay attention to mental wellbeing,’ he advises.