Self-care During Quarantine, Part 1

I’m not gonna mince words: We are in some really messed-up times. We’re stuck at home, which is something none of us have ever gone through. We’re either forced to work from home, or without a job at the moment. The news and social media bombard us, 24/7, with the chaos of a worldwide pandemic.

We’re not sleeping well. Our eating habits have gone bonkers. We don’t know what to do with ourselves. 

The only thing keeping me sane right now is keeping to my schedule Before Covid, or BC for short. This is not to say I’m not having a tough time, but I know it helps. We need some normalcy, right? Try to keep your schedule as close to how it was before as possible.

Take a walk

I start my day early to walk my dog, Dexter. We’ve always gotten up early to walk, and it’s so nice out right now. Plus, there’s nobody around. I have stopped listening to music or podcasts on our early walks, just so I can hear nature wake up. The birds are still chirping!

Get a good stretch in.

Stretching keeps my body in check. I do yoga, but you don’t have to do anything other than taking some nice stretches while making coffee. Bend forward slowly, and try to touch your toes. You don’t have to get there, but the motion of trying to wakes your body up. I love my hemp yoga mat! 

Keep your schedule as normal as possible.

My yoga studio is closed, of course, but they have put videos up online for us. Typically, I would walk to yoga every day around 3:45, take class, and walk home. Now I go through the routine, but I don’t leave my block. I take a long walk, do a yoga workout at home, and sometimes go for a walk after. Sometimes means I’ve done that once so far. Ha!

Eat right.

Our diets play a huge role in our physical and mental health. (Healths? I don’t know.) While it’s great to support the local restaurants who need the push, you’ll eat healthier if you make it yourself. Plus, it gives you something to do! I’ve learned how to make mozzarella cheese and a few different kinds of bread since quarantine started. When you spend a day making food, you appreciate it more, and (hopefully) eat a little less. 

Fresh fruits, veggies, and grains keep our insides and our brains happy, so don’t forget them. I’m a huge fan of oatmeal smothered in berries. I also like anything crunchy, so I have Mason jars of different salads in my fridge. I make 2 or 3 small batches of different salads so I don’t get bored. I try hard not to waste food, so small batches for a single girl are perfect.

Get outside. 

We have to keep our distance from others right now, but fresh air and sunshine do wonders for our immune system and mood. I live in an apartment and don’t have a backyard, but I have a lot of plants on my patio. The chore of watering them, pinching back dead stuff, and moving them around with the change of the weather keep me busy AND outside.

Call a friend. 

I’ve talked on the phone more in the past six weeks than the past six months. If you need video for your calls, there are many ways to do video chats, like Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Zoom, and Skype. (I think everyone has forgotten Skype with all the Zoom noise out there.)

Disconnect from Social Media after dinner. 

What? Yes. Social media is nasty right now. We’re exposed to toxic posts, fake news, and comments from Aunt Barb that make you wonder if she’s building a bunker in the middle of the woods. Turn it off! I swear you will be ok, and your friends will still be there tomorrow. No screen time in this house for the last 2 hours before I go to bed. 

Don’t watch the news after the evening news.

It’s enough for the day, and you won’t really miss anything. Besides, you’re supposed to be calming yourself down in the evening, not doing things that make your blood boil, right?

Take a bath and grab a book. 

My mother has always taken baths, and I have inherited that habit. On your next trip to the grocery store for essentials, purchase some epsom salts. Add a cup to your bath with several drops of lavender oil. Or get a CBD bath bomb. They’re so much fun. Who doesn’t want a bubbly bath? 

Your bath book can be a fun, trashy, beach book, or something from Oprah’s Book Club. Whichever you choose, keep it as far from the subject of pandemic as you can. Get lost in it while soaking. It will help you sleep, too!

Don’t grab your phone in bed.

I said it. You hate it. But, it’s true. You can Google the studies on screen time before bed. If you want a good night’s sleep and to feel great when you get up, you have to cut your screen time off. It’s an addiction, and lack of sleep plays a role in physical and mental health.

Journal.

Writing things down gets them out of our heads. I don’t know how much like me you are, but as a small business owner, my mind is always going. I keep a small notebook by my bed to write thoughts and ideas down before turning off the light.  

Get at least eight hours of sleep.

Yes, you can, if you just put that darn phone down. Create rituals at night that get your mind and body ready to sleep. Turn lights lower, play with the animals a bit, and get comfy. Have a favorite set of sheets? Use ‘em! 

What are some of your tips and tricks for feeling good during the pandemic?