Keep well this spring
Spring has officially sprung, and for many of us, the lighter nights and warmer weather make it the ideal time to improve our health and wellbeing. It’s important we carry on taking care of ourselves and those around us, taking time to recharge, keeping up to date with vaccinations, and keeping safe as we head out to enjoy the spring season.
Take care of your health
Keep active
If you can, keeping fit and active is a great way to take care of both your physical and mental health. There are plenty of great walking routes across our area, ranging from the 25-mile ‘Johnson Silver Lincs Way’ from Grimsby to Louth, to the six-mile ‘Wold Newton Circular’ walk in the countryside.
See some of the walking routes below and get inspired.
A one-mile walk through the woodland and open space, suitable for wheelchair users and dogs
A challenging 6-mile walk through the Wolds that provides views of the Dock Tower and the coast
A 4.5-mile walk from the Boating Lake to the Humberston Fitties, suitable for dogs.
A 5.25-mile walk through the woodlands and nearby villages, suitable for dogs.
A 2.25-mile walk in Cleethorpes, suitable for wheelchair users and dogs
Find out more about the indoor and outdoor activities you can do to keep active this spring.
Check in on your neighbours
If you are aware of a neighbour, friend, or relative who is over 65 or has a long-term condition and may find it difficult to get out, check that they are warm, well and their medicine cabinet and food supplies are stocked up. Having some company may also reduce social isolation.
Prepare for allergies
As we step into spring there are plenty more flower buds, trees and insects around us, which can trigger a lot of people’s allergies. Follow these tips to make sure you’re well-prepped to cope with any hay fever or seasonal allergies:
- Try avoid cutting the grass, pulling weeds or other types of gardening if they make your allergies worse.
- Keep your medicine cabinet stocked.
- Pharmacists provide good health advice on a range of minor ailments if you need to see a GP and information about getting your vaccines.
- Keep your windows and doors shut if the pollen count is high, usually in the early morning and in the late evening.
- Avoid keeping fresh flowers in the house.
Take care of your mind
We know that a change in the season doesn’t simply cure low mood, stress and worry, and it can even be overwhelming for some to adjust to the change from the dark, cold winter months. Though managing these feelings can feel impossible, there are small changes we can make to make a difference and take care of our mind.
Five ways to wellbeing
Exam and study stress
As it’s approaching the exam season, there’s a lot of pressure to do well. It’s important to not get too overwhelmed and try to manage your stress, and remember if you don’t do as well as you hoped it’s not the end of the world. Here are some tips on dealing with exam and study stress:
- Take breaks – Nobody can work all day without losing concentration and becoming stressed. Remember to take breaks regularly, listen to music or watch a TV show before going back to revision.
- Remember to eat – You may feel too nervous to eat, but once you’re in the exam or period of study you will probably only be able to think of how hungry you are. Eating well will give you enough energy, and will help you concentrate.
- Sleep – The night before your exam get a regular eight hours – put your book down, have a relaxing bath and turn off all technology. A good night’s sleep will help you be well-rested for your exams and study, and you won’t feel tired and irritable.
- Try not to speak about exams or pieces of work directly afterwards – It’s so tempting to ask your friends what their answers were, and compare notes. Try not to ask too many questions because if you all have different answers, the chances are you will worry until results day – it’s too late to change any of your answers once the work or exam is submitted.
Heading to the beach?
As we head into the Easter holidays and the weather is starting to pick up, many of us will be heading into Cleethorpes. Prepare for your visit by checking the weather forecast. Find safety advice, tide times, wind speed and the weather at Met Office – Cleethorpes Beach. The Resort Team are available 365 days a year to provide safety advice and make sure people are staying safe on the beach.
Staying safe
Domestic Abuse
If you are in an emergency
If you are concerned about the safety of yourself or someone else, please ring 999 and ask for the police. If you are unable to speak, when the operator is on the line, press 55 on the keypad.
It’s going to be an exciting summer as the UEFA Euro fixtures are due to kick off in June, but it’s important to recognise how tensions of the game are not limited to the football pitch.
Figures show that the reported incidents of domestic abuse increased by 26% if England played, 38% if England lost, and 11% the next day, win or lose.*
You do not have to wait for an emergency situation to find help. If domestic abuse is happening to you or someone you know, it’s important to tell someone.
For non-emergency incidents, contact Humberside Police on 101. Alternatively, you can find local services and report an incident online at Advice about Domestic Abuse | Humberside Police.
*(CPS, 2022)
Crime prevention
As the weather starts to get warmer, we are more likely to start opening our windows. Make sure to close and lock your windows when you are not in the house to prevent thieves from being able to get in.
Make your home more secure by following some basic advice:
- Lock all doors and windows, and ensure any PVCu doors are locked properly by lifting the handle and using the key,
- Keep keys and valuables secure and out of sight,
- Consider installing a doorbell camera, internal camera and burglar alarm,
- Ensure gates are locked, and tools and ladders in a locked shed,
- Secure bins at night as these can be used by burglars as climbing aids to gain access to upper-floor windows.
Rough sleepers
With the weather starting to get warmer, it is essential for those who are rough sleeping to keep safe. Our outreach teams will have water, suncream, and sun hats available for those who need them. We will also provide Harbour Place with these, so please ensure you are engaging with the street outreach teams who can provide these.
If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing your home in the next 56 days, please contact the council’s homeless team as soon as possible on 01472 326296 Option 1.
If you see someone sleeping rough, let the council know by downloading StreetLink from your usual app store.
Things to do
Love Exploring
Get out and about over the half term with the Love Exploring App, a free, augmented reality game that leads you down trails to play mini-games and learn fun facts. This Easter holidays you can find the Love Exploring Dinosaur Safari around North East Lincolnshire!
Holiday Activities and Food Programme
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme provides holiday activities in North East Lincolnshire to families that are eligible for benefit-related Free School Meals. Your child’s school will send out a booking link to use tokens over the Easter and Summer holidays.
Go green
Spring is a great time to start preparing your garden for summer, and gardening is a fun activity that will keep you up and moving.
North East Lincolnshire Council has launched the ‘Greening Up Our Place’ tree planting programme. Get involved and help green up your community.
Related content
Financial support, advice and guidance
Alcohol, drugs and substance misuse
Families First Information Service
Related websites
Get vaccinated – Let’s Get Better
Met Office – Cleethorpes Beach
