If there’s ever been a period that demanded deliberateness in taking care of our mental, emotional, physical – and overall wellness, it must be these times of COVID-19. The global pandemic has switched things up at a drastic speed. Working from home has suddenly become the new normal. Virtual and online schooling has been picked up by many academic institutions, which previously may have stuck to traditional classroom-based learning. With everything that is going on in the world, staying home is definitely the in thing – and we want to make sure we are prioritizing self-care while at it.
Incorporating these 6 self-care practices into your routine can help you feel more in charge of your world despite all that’s happening.
Stay Active
The need for movement can never be overemphasized. Movement affects our brain, our mental health and our overall wellness. The more active you are the more resilient you become to stress and depression. When you engage in regular exercise you not only look and feel amazing; it’s also about what’s happening to your body on the inside – you become stronger and healthier.
Eat Healthy
We can’t talk about exercise and leave out the need for good nutrition, the two work together. If you’re only focused on working out and you aren’t paying attention to the kinds of food that goes into your mouth, let’s face it, it’s a disservice to your body. A healthy lifestyle combined with regular physical activity can not only help in attaining and maintaining a healthy weight but it minimizes the chance of chronic illnesses. The key thing is to always know what works for your body before embarking on this journey.
Develop Healthy Relationships
Humans have an inherent desire to socialize, connect and build deep meaningful relationships. We aren’t wired to live in isolation, it’s detrimental to our health. And in as much as we are being encouraged to home quarantine and avoid public gatherings to lessen the spread of COVID-19, it does not in any way imply we live in isolation. Putting in efforts to nurture relationships goes a long way especially with the technology at our disposal. One study even suggested that a lack of social relationships has the same impact as that of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.
Take Social Media Breaks
Even though there are tons of social media benefits, constant use can be distracting and can keep you from checking off important tasks that need to be done. Periodic breaks are important especially if you feel you’re spending too much time on it.
Get Enough Sleep
Adequate sleep is often neglected, yet it’s vital to our well being. Sleep will boost your brainpower: your creativity, mood, and productivity. Better still, sleep is even linked to a person’s social and emotional intelligence. How awesome can it get? Just work on getting recommended hours -7 plus- and you’ll be set to conquer the next day.
Stack Gratitude
Find something to be grateful for and keep an inventory of those things. Gratitude will definitely shift your focus and keep you on the glass half full side of life. It’ll help you relish good experiences and make you feel happier.
