These strange times leave us with a lot of anxiety to sit with while stirring around at home. Even though we may not be as busy and bustling as we used to be, it is important to find ways to self care during quarantine.

Foreword

Before we get into ways to self care during quarantine, I just need to tell you that whatever emotion you’re feeling about this pandemic is valid. Just one month ago, we were rushing through our daily schedule. Today, we find ourselves in our homes in the midst of a pandemic. That is a major change for our species that happened in a very short time.

It is only natural to feel anxiety, confusion, or whatever you’re feeling while navigating these uncharted waters. The loss of normalcy and our daily life comes with a grief that seems unexplainable. Allow yourself to grieve. You are human <3

That being said, let’s get into ways to self care during quarantine:

Journal

Like I said earlier, this pandemic and drastic lifestyle change comes with a lot of emotions. These days, I have a lot of trouble sleeping because my mind is buzzing with anxiety. I’ve always found journaling very therapeutic because it gives me time to process my thoughts and feelings while I write. Seeing my written thoughts makes them feel less daunting. When I journal, I love listening to Norah Jones or Iron and Wine.

Facetime With Family and Friends

I feel so grateful to quarantine in an era with technology that allows us to talk to our loved ones. Can you imagine if we had to write letters to each other that took a week to get to your family in the mail? Take advantage of Facetime to call your family and maybe even catch up with some friends you haven’t talked to in awhile. With everyone home, they should be easy to reach lol!

Make Boundaries

Whenever you are working or need time to yourself, try to find a place where you can be alone in your home. It is important to have your own space (especially for introverts) when we are all at home together. It’s important to make boundaries around your personal space.

It’s also okay to make boundaries in conversations. If you are feeling really stressed out about the the virus, it’s okay to tell whoever you’re talking to, “hey, I’m feeling really overwhelmed by the virus. Can we talk about something else?”

I also think it is important to make boundaries with your news consumption. A lot to people are blaming “the media” for so much virus coverage, but reporting is their job! It is your responsibility as a consumer to know when you’re feeling stressed out by the news and need a break.

Exercise

I’ve talked about this a little in my last fitness post, but I don’t work out for the aesthetics. I work out because it has helped a lot with my anxiety and confidence. Since I’ve been pretty anxious lately with all this going on, working out has been the only time I can truly get my mind off of things. I have really been enjoying @rrayyme’s daily live workout sessions. They’re effective workouts that cater to all skill levels.

Find a Creative Outlet

Since we are all bored and anxious, I think now is a really great time to dive into a creative outlet. Whether it’s painting, knitting, or organizing, I’ve always found creativity really calming. You don’t have to be “good” at art to be creative. I’ve also found adult coloring books to be extremely therapeutic if you don’t want to start something from scratch. Just remember, your art doesn’t have to be perfect! 

Take a Break from the News (and Social Media)

When sh*t really hit the fan a few weeks ago, I noticed I felt extremely anxious when looking at social media (because other people were also feeling anxious). I also felt stressed when reading my emails because every email seemed to be a COVID update. On that day, I decided to lock myself out of Instagram and my mail app for 24 hours.

Giving myself a day without social media and email gave me the clarity to process my anxious feelings. Even if you can’t take a day off your phone for work reasons, give yourself at least an hour free of news or whatever app is stressing you out the most.

Give Back to your Community

I think a lot of us feel frustrated/helpless right now because there is little we can do besides social distancing if we’re not medical professionals, grocery store workers, etc. I know a lot of people have lost their jobs during this time, but if you are in a position to help, there are a couple easy ways to safely give back to your community.

Here’s how you can give back:

-Order takeout from local restaurants

-Donate to your Local Food Bank or Animal Shelter

-Buy Gift Cards from Restaurants, Hair Stylists, etc.

-Social Distancing

In what ways are you practicing self care during quarantine?