Self-Care- for You and Those Around You During COVID-19
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The pandemic has disrupted our daily routines and lifestyles. It has drastically changed how we work, plan things; it has altered our routines. Our new reality presents us with a unique set of challenges. Hence, in this time of uncertainty and change, incorporating self-care in our lives, especially in terms of mental and emotional health and well-being, has become essential. Self-care practices can include simple daily activities, like taking deep breaths, practicing meditation, going out for a walk, reading a book, and so on. There is no particular way to practice self-care. It may look different for each person.
Here are a few tips for practicing self-care during this time of uncertainty and challenges.
1. Mental Self-Care
Mental self-care is about nurturing a healthy mindset through curiosity and mindfulness. You may experience increased feelings of unease, powerlessness, intolerance, irritability, or frustration during this pandemic. Practicing mental self-care is very important to develop a healthy mindset. It is beneficial for both our physical and mental health. You can do different kinds of exercises while staying home by following a few YouTube channels or exercise apps. Practicing meditation lowers stress, reduces anxiety and depression, and brings down negative thinking. Meditation is a tool you should consider adding to your arsenal to combat and control mental stress. Besides meditation, you can also consider writing or reading a book by taking breaks away from work and your tech gadgets.
2. Emotional Self-Care
Emotional self-care includes taking care of the complicated matters of the heart with self-compassion and coping strategies. Tapping into emotional self-care allows you to know yourself more, deal with setbacks and challenges better, and enables healthy emotional responses. Have conversations with friends and family. During the time of crisis, we thrive on social interactions and connectedness. A way to fight emotional stress is to schedule phone calls and video calls with friends and family to continue a sense of connectedness. It is essential to be open and honest and talk about your feelings. Watching a movie or listening to your favorite songs are also few ways to give your self a break and unwind.
3. Physical Self-Care
Physical activity and exercise is a great way to overcome anxiety during this time of isolated living. Physical self-care includes taking care of your body with workouts, nutrition, and healthy diet, practicing hygiene, and good sleep. Regular exercise can raise your energy levels and increase your confidence. Getting at least -7 hours of quality sleep every night can keep you physically active throughout the day. Fuel your body by eating a healthy and well-balanced diet. Also, increase the intake of water to stay hydrated. All these activities can help you improve your physical health and leave you feeling refreshed every day.
4. Environmental Self-Care
During this pandemic, everyone is spending more time at home. A messy house can lead to added stress and anxiety. Environmental self-care involves creating an atmosphere around you that makes you feel good. Declutter your workspace and living spaces to feel more organized and comfortable. Start with a shelf or identify a few items and find a place for them. You can even take care of your garden or plants if you have any. The more you take care of your environment around you, the more it will help you to thrive and instill a sense of belonging where you are.
5. Recreational Self-Care
This implies taking care of your inner child with fun activities, hobbies, and new experiences. Recreation is essential because it lets you get away from the stress of your to-do list and enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer. It is a chance to tune out other interruptions and focus on one thing at a time. Coloring and other creative activities, like drawing, painting, or knitting, can be soothing for many people. If you wanted to get into art or learn a musical instrument, now is a great time. Sometimes taking time to do absolutely nothing is also a kind of recreational self-care.
Though many things feel beyond our control right now, we can overcome the present situation. Prioritizing self-care and supporting your loved ones can help not only you to overcome stress, anxiety, and loneliness but extend this help to those you come in contact with. These proactive and realistic self-care tips allow you to focus on you and your family’s well-being. Remind yourself that this too shall pass.
