The Coronavirus Pandemic has impacted our daily life as we know it. Even if we have not been infected by the virus we have still been affected by it. Lock-down, working from home, cancelled holidays and events, being worried for friends and family coupled with information overload can be a recipe for stress and anxiety. Feeling anxious and stressed is inevitable in the current Pandemic, but too much stress can negatively impact your mood, sleep routine and even your health. There are a variety of ways to effectively manage stress and here are a few suggestions: 1. Change "I'm stuck inside" to " I can now focus on the things I don't usually have time for" As uncertain as things may feel right now, think of working from home as an opportunity to refocus. Doing one productive thing per day can lead to a more positive attitude. Complete that long avoided task, organise your wardrobe, create something you have always wanted to or wash the dog. Creating a "could-do" list as opposed to a "to-do" list assists with approaching the task with a relaxed frame of mind as opposed to a deadline orientated task, which if you don't manage to compete, will only stress you out more. This is your chance to slow down and focus on yourself. 2. Try to maintain your daily routine (in so far as possible and is allowed!) Try and maintain some form structure from the good old pre-quarantine days. When working from home it could be all too tempting to adopt a more lethargic lifestyle, which could lead to negative thinking. Instead, wake up and go to bed around the same time, eat healthy balanced meals, shower, adapt your exercise routine and get out of your PJ’s!! Not only will sticking to your normal routine keep you active and provides something to occupy your mind it will also be easier to readjust when lock-down ends and we can all head back into the office. 3. Limit information overload It is all to easy to spend your days and evenings mindlessly scrolling through social media (I mean, do you really need to find out what pizza you would be or what Harry Potter house you would be sorted into?!) and news apps. But spending too much time reading about the Pandemic can actually make you feel more anxious and confused. Of course it is important to be informed but limiting your time and reading content from creditable sources is important to ensure you are not being tricked by incorrect reporting and click-bait headlines. Hopefully some of these tips will help however, if your stress levels are reaching levels that are unmanageable, you should reach out for professional help https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/understanding-stress/

The Bank of England has published their first report on the potential impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the banking sector and UK economy. The report focuses on the recent performance of the financial system after the seriousness of Coronavirus was reported, the resilience of the UK banking sector amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic and discusses the financing of the corporate sector during the Pandemic. The report also includes a scenario which based on the assessment of risk of the UK's financial stability and the resilience of the UK's economy. If the scenario is correct, it would see the GDP of the UK falling to 14% which would equate to the worst annual slump for more than 300 years. The report can be read here