Coronavirus log: How I'm looking after my mental health while working from home

It's starting to feel like Day 22 in the Big Brother house - minus the Geordie voiceover and the housemates.

But it's only been Day 2 of working from home and social distancing.

As head of news, the prospect of running a 'virtual newsdesk' from the confines of my spare bedroom (makeshift office/junk room) filled me with dread.

I understand why we have to do it though and I hope everyone is keeping healthy and safe.

This week team BFP has, as we always do, pulled together and produced a great edition of the paper despite the challenges.

The coronavirus crisis is fast moving and my colleagues are working really hard to serve the community with the most accurate and up to date stories as best we can.

I will spare you the details of my routine but I did want to share a few things I'm learning about home working:

• The most important is to take some breaks. You can end up glued to your computer screen so force yourself to take a few minutes away from time to time as well as a lunch break.
• If you're working in an empty house or flat, try to talk to someone outside of work (a mate or loved one) during your lunch hour to help break up the day.
• Get some fresh air and go for a walk if you can.

I appreciate some of this is easier said than done and I rarely heed my own advice when it comes to sensible work hours but in these anxious times we have to look after our mental and emotional health as well as our physical health.

On the plus side, I now get to bring my dog to work and the other half made me lunch today. We haven't irritated each other yet but there's still time - then it really would be like Big Brother.