7 Self-Care Tips During The Coronavirus Pandemic: A Simple Guide To Get Your Life Together
Given how fast-paced and complex modern life has become after COVID, self-care is quickly becoming one of the most common topics of conversations these days. All of your friends, favorite influencers, family members, and even your neighbor Sally have TONS of unsolicited self-care advice.
However, there is a lot of misinformation online and in the news regarding self-care. And when I said misinformation, I may have been under-selling it.
For example, look at the headline below from The New York Times on self-care. It is honestly so, so wrong.
The New York Times: Crying In Your Car Counts as Self-Care by Jessica Grose
This is a REAL article The New York Times posted a month after COVID became a full-blown pandemic in the U.S.A.
And it sounds bleak as hell.
No wonder you are confused about what self-care actually means…
When appropriately practiced (not crying in your car once a week on command lol), self-care allows you to take care of yourself, recharge your spirits, recover your health, and take your mind off the endless race that life has become.
Because of the pandemic, it’s not just our physical health that has been affected. But our mental and emotional health has equally been impacted. That is why now more than ever, I feel it is so important to talk about proper self-care habits to help you find balance and purpose in your relationships, work, and life.
Now, unlike what many people think, self-care is NOT about:
Indulging in unhealthy practices like eating junk food (treat yo self),
Spending lavishly on things to make yourself feel better (yay shopping therapy),
Nor is it a substitution for medication from those struggling with mental health.
Self-care involves only those practices that bring a positive change to your state of mind.
If you are not sure exactly where to start, think of this blog post as your prescription of 7 proven self-care tips — easy daily exercises for every area of your life.
Are you ready to get your life together?
1) Exercise Every Day
Seriously, if you want to take care of yourself, there is nothing better than exercising daily.
I know it can be quite hard to bring yourself to workout, especially in the beginning. But the rewards are just astounding.
Exercising every day, even for just half an hour, is enough to keep several physical and mental ailments at bay.
It can help you lose some weight, and make you feel more energetic. It also enhances your mood, and that is always a great way to start off the day.
2) Spend Time Outdoors
If there is one thing that is glaringly clear about the modern-day lifestyle, it is that we tend to spend a lot of time indoors.
Whether it is at the office or at home, we are spending most of our time inside. This can make you less active and have an exhausting impact on your mind.
If you spend some time outdoors, though, you will feel much better. It has also been found that it benefits the brain.
And, by spending time outdoors, I don't mean the time you spend driving in your car. This has to be a dedicated chunk of time where you just enjoy being outside.
I suggest going on a walk for 15-minutes right after you get up in the morning. This has been shown through studies that getting morning sunlight can even help you sleep better at night as it helps set your circadian rhythm.
3) Help Other People
Who knew caring for others could contribute towards your self-care too!
Think about it — don't you just feel great on the inside when you have helped someone, knowing that you made a positive impact on somebody's life?
Even studies show that lending a hand can be beneficial for your mental and emotional health.
So, whenever you are feeling low, try to head out and help someone. Maybe a friend, loved one, or even giving a compliment to your local barista. You could also do regular volunteering and keep that positive energy coming!
4) Get Enough Sleep
I can't stress enough how important this is. Sleep plays a critical role in our lives, and we all require 7-8 hours of sleep every day.
Unfortunately, almost half of the world is sleep-deprived.
This alone should tell you about the state of the world we live in.
Regardless, you should make it a point to get the sleep you need, no matter what. There are so many reasons why this is critical. It helps you recharge physically and mentally, boosts your mood, increases productivity, improves learning, decreases the risk of diseases, and so on.
If you have trouble sleeping, check out my blog on 10 Ways To Get Better Sleep Every Night and check out my book notes on Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, PhD.
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5) Listen To Some Music
I don't think I need to tell you what music can do to your mood. It is something that we all have a great deal of experience with. Songs can make you want to dance, smile, and even cry after your middle school boyfriend breaks up with you.
No matter your taste in music, there are bound to be songs that can lift your spirits (Try listening to Britney Spears’ Toxic without getting on an elevated surface. I dare you.)
So, spend some time every day listening to your favorite tunes. Make sure you throw some upbeat songs into the mix, as they can leave you feeling much happier.
6) Laugh Out Loud
I am sure you have heard that laughter is the best medicine. There is a reason why people say this over and over again.
Research suggests that laughing can benefit your physical as well as mental health. It can relieve stress from your body and stimulate several critical organs like the heart and lungs.
Laughing also sends a signal throughout your body that you are fine and happy. This can lead to a general feeling of well-being.
So, if you can't laugh on cue, make sure you watch some funny movies, go to a stand-up comedy show, or try new hilarious tv shows from time to time. Maybe FaceTime with your friends and laugh it out!
7) Declutter Your Work And Living Spaces
Are you the type of person who likes to keep things organized at all times? Or are you the type of person who tends to accumulate mess over time?
I am guessing, for most people, it's the latter. If you are one of these people, you might want to declutter. This applies to both your work as well as living spaces.
Many researchers believe that clutter can stress you out without you even realizing it. You might already know this by experience too.
So, the sane thing to do for your peace of mind is to just keep things simple.
Don't you feel a sense of calm and happiness when you clean your house? It's the same with decluttering!
I want to hear from you
As you can see, self-care is an essential practice, especially in the modern world that we live in. Most people are constantly stressed out, and it can have a terrible effect on your health.
If this sounds like you, you need to take care of yourself! Otherwise, you might eventually burn out, and that will take even longer to recover from.
I’m curious — What works best for you when it comes to self-care?
Let’s hear what your favorite self-care tip is today in the comments below.
References:
1) https://medlineplus.gov/benefitsofexercise.html
2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23968220/
3) https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/everyday-healthy-living/mental-health-and-relationships/get-enough-sleep
4) https://munewsarchives.missouri.edu/news-releases/2013/0514-trying-to-be-happier-works-when-listening-to-upbeat-music-according-to-mu-research/
5) https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456
6) https://www.today.com/health/are-you-clutterer-how-clear-your-home-ease-your-guilt-856910
7) https://www.verywellhealth.com/morning-sunlight-exposure-3973908
