When we entered the beginning of this pandemic back in March, we relished the idea of tucking away for two weeks to enjoy some time at home. Little did we know we’d still be in the midst of it this long after, but we can still find the pieces of joy we need to come out on the other side of this whole and healthy. It’s a balancing act where setting boundaries and taking care of yourself need to come into play. If you feel like you’re not getting the time you need to nurture your needs, here’s what to do.
1. Make your meals count
We’ve got more than enough time on our hands these days. Fuel your body with what it needs and even try a few new healthy foods you’ve never tried before. Try to have fun with new recipes, finding bright and exciting ingredients to make dishes that look like Instagram-worthy restaurant shots to pamper yourself. There are tons of free cooking classes online for you to try, too.
2. Do something fun for exercise
Physical activity helps boost immunity, so give it all you’ve got. I know the gym isn’t a possibility right now for many unless you have a home gym, so look for fun things you can do to get that exercise in. Try dancing or look on YouTube for just about any type of workout you can imagine, which will allow you to keep your body moving while making it feel like you’ve escaped.
3. Relax deeply
Stress is something we’re all feeling collectively. We can’t escape it entirely, but we can cope with it. What helps to relax you? Have a few tried-and-true methods you use to relax and rotate them throughout the week. This sounds like an effortless thing to do, but choosing this time for yourself each week gets overlooked often, so decide to make it a priority and stick with it!
4. Fulfill your need to interact with others
Surely, we can all agree that missing the ones we love is tough. Find the best ways to interact with friends and family in whatever way feels safest and most wise. We are fortunate to have the virtual world we have, so take advantage of that through these times to stay connected with those you love. Keep in mind this is temporary, even though it isn’t as temporary as we first hoped. Don’t forget to check in on those in your circle, too.
5. Turn off the drama
We’ve been bombarded with information — much of it ever-changing because of the fluidity of this pandemic. When the news and social media gets too much, please turn it off. We got along just fine before we had all this information at our fingertips, and it will do you so much good to live in the moment instead. You can practice by setting a timer each day to consume information and stop once the timer is up. This will help you still feel connected and informed, but it won’t allow you to spend hours of your day consumed by it.
And, of course, find those ways to treat yourself wherever you can. Support a local restaurant by ordering takeout to take a night off of cooking. Soak in your tub, order a new outfit or running shoes, and find ways to tap into what makes you feel more content.
