There’s no hiding from the fact that we’re all a little bit stressed and anxious right now.

Yesterday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, and as the number of coronavirus cases in the UK grows faster every day, it’s hard not to feel a little bit on edge. Indeed, for many of us, the pace at which the situation is changing (and the amount of information we have to digest as a result), can be particularly anxiety-inducing, so much so that we’re panic buying and stockpiling in an attempt to feel in control.

But just because we’ve got so many great wellbeing advice and anxiety-busting techniques at our fingertips these days, doesn’t mean we have to put them into action all the time. Sometimes, in fact, distracting ourselves is the best thing we can do to deal with feelings of anxiety and upset – and according to psychologist Katherine King, too many of us dismiss distraction as a valid approach.

Coronavirus: is the news making you anxious? Here’s why distraction could be the answer