We have all heard some really hard news recently. Lives & lifestyles have changed drastically over the last couple weeks and most people are stuck inside wondering what to do. Self care is always important, but they are especially important during these uncertain times. No matter what this pandemic has brought to your life, it is very important to continue practicing self care.
I want you to continue taking care of yourself during this time, so I have pulled together a list of self care strategies, as well as activities to try out during this time. I talk more about this in my post about The Importance of Self-Care, but I wanted to pull together a list specially for this difficult time while we are all in quarantine.
I hope you find this post to be helpful for you! I know this is a hard time, but I truly believe that there is nothing that we can’t handle.
You can also check out my other posts on getting through quarantine & abrupt changes in you lifestyle: My Morning Routine During Quarantine, Staying on track while stuck at home during quarantine, Tips for working from home, How to Handle Stress & Overwhelm, What I’ve learned during lockdown, What 2020 taught me
PIN NOW, READ LATER!
Keep a Schedule
No matter what your work situation is, it is very important to keep a schedule during this time. If you are not used to working from home, it can be hard to figure out what your new routine looks like. However, it is important to continue to keep a daily schedule to get any work done and also for organizing any other things that need to get done. This can be planning out any activities to get done during the day.
Related: Preparing for the best week ever
Get up early
It can be hard to resist the urge to sleep in as much as possible if you don’t have urgent obligations you need to get up early for. Getting up early, especially if you have children at home and anyone else, it could be helpful in making sure you have time to practice your daily self care. How you spend your mornings definitely helps shape how the rest of your day is going to play out.
Always be reading a book
Being stuck inside all day for an extended period of time is a perfect opportunity to pick up a book and make a habit to read everyday. Maybe you incorporate this into your morning routine or night routine as a part of your self care routine. There are so many great benefits to reading and during a time at home in quarantine is the perfect time to include reading into your daily routine.
Some of my favorite books right now:
I have more books listed under My Favorites!
Journal everyday
Journaling is an activity that I talk about quite a bit and I think is incredibly important especially during these intense times. I talk more about this in my post about The Power of Journaling. We have all been processing some really hard news and our lives & lifestyles have been altered in many ways. It can be scary & you might be having a hard time processing & dealing with everything.
Related: Journal Prompts for Self Reflection & Self Discovery, How to Handle Stress & Overwhelm
It’s very important to make sure that you are keeping track of your mental & emotional well-being. Getting everything out of your head and onto paper and trying to come up with potential solutions to whatever is going on. Now is the time to pick up your journal you’ve been thinking about starting to write in & start diving deep into your mental health.
Practice gratitude everyday
During hard times like what we’ve been dealing with, it can be hard to focus on the things that are going well because so many difficult things have been going on. All of the great things to be grateful for can be overshadowed by all of the chaos around you. Which, makes it all the more important to start practicing gratitude. Even on the days that it seems like the world is crumbling around you, there are still many things to be grateful for. This exercise can shift your mindset and calm stress. What you focus on is very important!
Practice Meditation
During this time, it is really important to be mindful. Meditation can be hard to get into & is often a practice that is pushed off to the side due to feeling unnecessary. Especially if you’ve been wanting to get into it but haven’t found the chance to give it a try, now is the time to get started. Our thoughts are all over the place with trying to process everything & it can be very hard to keep ourselves calm during a time of great chaos.
There are several apps for guided meditation, most even have a free version available. Now is the time to start planning a time for mediation in to your daily schedule. Even if it means getting up really early or going to bed really early to get some time to yourself!
Use essential oils
Essential oils are really great for enhancing relaxation! I would recommend using an oil diffuser and have some relaxing oils diffusing throughout the day. Even having them going in the morning and at night before bed to enhance relaxation. The oil that I like to use is Pure Aroma because it comes in a package that contains allll of the oils that I like to use on a daily basis. I usually always have one package in my amazon cart because I know that I’m going to need a refill!
If you don’t have an essential oil diffuser yet, I would recommend getting one that comes with some oils to get you started, like this one. That way you can test out which oils you really like so you know which ones you would like to get a refill on.
There are even roll on essential oils that you can rub together on the inside of your wrists & on your chest. Breath in deeply and enjoy the aromas!
Feed your body healthy foods
During stressful times, especially with being stuck inside with the future of everything being unknown, it can be very easy to reach for comfort foods. While I think it’s important to indulge at times, it is also very important to be getting in nutrient-rich foods.
Related: Staying on track while stuck at home during quarantine, My 10 Tips For Beating Bloat & Getting Back On Track
We want to make sure that we are keeping our immune systems nice & strong and that starts with the foods that we are putting into our bodies. While it is important to get nonperishable foods from the grocery store, it is also important to continue to get fresh fruits & vegetables! Even stocking up on some frozen veggies as a healthier option.
During this time, be mindful of what you are putting in your body!
Take your vitamins
I know I struggle with remembering to take my vitamins daily, but especially now, it is important to start taking vitamins daily. This is something that I am trying to work on as well because in addition to our diet, taking the necessary vitamins is definitely important in making sure that our immune systems are nice & strong!
Take a break from media & social media
Being cognizant about your time spent scrolling on social media is already important to monitor. But especially now, with all kinds of chaos going on & maybe being home a lot more, you might find yourself scrolling on social media a lot more. I know I have found myself scrolling on social media a lot more and it is definitely a lot to consume.
Even if it means turning your phone off completely for a couple hours at a time for a couple times throughout the day. It is VERY important to unplug during this time. Dedicate time to completely turn EVERYTHING off & focus on a self care activity.
Do a deep reflection
I’m a big believer in the importance of reflecting to help with your mindset & how you are going to plan for moving forward. Especially during this time, it’s important to think about what this time of chaos, isolation & quarantine has done for you.
- What have you learned during this time?
- Has this changed your perspective at all?
- How will you approach things differently from now on?
- Has this changed anything for you when this is all over?
- What do you want to do when all of this is over?
- What are your goals, what does your daily routine + daily life look like to you?
- What have you learned?
Make a vision board
After being in a time of deep reflection, it might also be a good time to put together a storyboard for your goals and potentially new approach to life. With everything that you have learned and been put through, maybe it’s a good time to really think about your vision & potentially new outlook on life. If you need some inspiration, there are many tutorials & inspiration on Pinterest & YouTube!
Get outside
Even during quarantine, it’s important to get outside and get some fresh air! Even if it’s just spending some time time on your front or back patio. Getting outside has always been on my radar, but now more than ever I’m making it a goal to spend at least some time outside. Even if it’s just sitting on my patio for some time. Leave the phone inside, close your eyes and taking some deep breaths. Observe your surroundings and enjoy just simply being in fresh air!
Exercise
Getting in exercise calls for some creativity for most people with gyms being closed. I know for me, my routine has been early morning workouts for a long time now. Even though it is more difficult, there are definitely many creative & resourceful ways to get in a workout at home!
- Go on a run outside
- Utilize the free resources people are offering online
- Use any at home workout tapes you might have laying around
- Get some equipment at the store if you want (like weights/bands)
I’m even using the staircase in the parking garage of my apartment complex to get in some cardio! I personally had a hard time getting into working out during the day since my routine has had to be adjusted. But, it is very important to get your body moving and get those endorphins released to keep your mental health (& physical health of course!).
Virtual Dinner/Coffee Date With Family + Friends
I know there are a lot of people out there who live by themselves and are really missing the connection with others. We are so blessed to be living in a time where we can do pretty much anything virtually! The next best thing to an in-person hang out is getting on FaceTime/Skype/Zoom. Schedule a virtual dinner date or even a coffee date!
Other Activities
- Go for a walk
- Have a movie/Netflix marathon
- Coloring Books
- Painting
- Puzzles
- Build forts in the living room
- Make a list of recipes/desserts to make
- Clean/organize the house
- Turn on the music and have a dance party
I hope you found that list helpful for you! I know this time is very difficult for everyone, but I hope that you found this list to be helpful. I also want to provide you with a list of activities that you could try while in quarantine!
If this time has taught us anything, it’s to slow down & get creative! I know that this time is very difficult for a lot of people, but it’s really important for all of us to keep going and do what we need to do to keep going in our daily lives!
I understand how difficult this time is for so many people around the globe. So, I have put together a FREE printable Self Care & Activities During Quarantine Guide for you!
Click here to download the guide <3
I do offer 1:1 coaching and invite you to check out my opportunities if that is something that you would be interested in. Click here for more information on my 1:1 coaching opportunities! <3
Related: How to know if it’s time to hire a life coach
>> click here to learn more about my secret life changing check in system
>> click here to download my Step-by-Step Guide to Handling Stress & Overwhelm
>> click here to download my Self Care Planning Worksheet
>> click here to download my 50 journal prompts for self reflection & self discovery
Be safe out there everyone!
Xx,
Jess
