With everything going on in the world right now, I know many of us are more stressed and scared than we usually are. There is so much uncertainty, and and if you’re in the United States like I am, perhaps you feel like we are playing the waiting game to see what is going to come of the current pandemic. While it’s been really difficult to stay calm and de-stress, I thought I would share some of the things I’m doing to practice self care while staying at home and social distancing. These five tips are certainly not a cure for worry, but they do help me feel somewhat better.
1. Limiting News Intake
Being aware of what is going on in the world and in our local communities is very important, but watching the news regularly, or even going on Facebook or Twitter, can be very overwhelming. Not only is there a great deal of misinformation on the internet, but with so much bad news, it can really affect my mood and ability to function. Since I began working from home last week, I have made an effort to limit my news intake. I try to check in with a few trusted news sources 1-2 times per day, just so I can know important updates. Otherwise, I distance myself from reading such heartbreaking and horrific news throughout the day. If the news also stresses you out, it’s okay to take a step back. You can even ask someone you trust to provide you with important updates when necessary.
2. Giving My Hair and Skin a Break
Since I’m staying at home with the exception of necessary errands, I’ve decided now is the perfect time to let my hair and skin go au naturel. I typically flat iron my hair a few times during the week, so I’m giving my hair a break from heat. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, since I noticed my hair getting wavier over the past several months. Similarly, I typically wear makeup at least five days a week. Now is the perfect time to let my skin breathe. It feels good to just be myself, and not do any extra primping in the mornings.
3. Consuming Lighthearted Media
In my last blog post, I touched on how I am listening to a lot of podcasts while I’m working from home. I am also switching up the other media I consume as well. For example, I usually read a lot of intense books, with my favorite genre being dystopian. Those books really do not sound appealing right now, so I’ve started a new project that fits into the #MyYearofRereading Project. I’m of the generation that grew up with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and I have a large stack of their books. I’ve decided to read at least one of these books a day, and it’s already proving to be a lot of fun. You can follow my Goodreads and Bookstagram for updates. In the same way, I’m watching nostalgic movies on Disney+. This past weekend I watched Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, and it was awesome!
4. Using Fun Phone Apps
Since I’m trying to avoid the usual social media sites I browse, I’m spending more time on some fun apps on my phone. Of course, I’m still using Poshmark, and I’ve tried to be more active in the Poshmark Parties and in sharing other people’s closets. In addition, I have two games that I like to play to pass the time. The first is Disney Emoji Blitz, and the second is TwoDots. Both are cute games that take a lot of concentration, so it’s a great way to distract myself. I’ve played both of these games for years, but I’m definitely using the apps more now than I typically would, and that’s okay.
5. “Spending Time” with Family
One thing that’s been good for me is FaceTiming with my niece and nephew. I used to talk to my nephew on FaceTime almost every day, but once he started school and I began working full time, I was lucky if I got to talk to him once a week. Since we’re both home now, we are able to talk much more often. It is wonderful to spend time with him virtually even if we cannot be together. I get to see my baby niece when she is awake, too! If you’re feeling alone, I highly recommend reaching out to friends or family on video chat, on the phone, or by texting. I’ve made it a point to call my grandma more often to check on her as well.
Overall, while I’m still feeling quite stressed, practicing some different kinds of self care has been helping to keep me as grounded as possible. I would love to hear from you in the comments – how are you staying calm in this challenging time? Let’s share our self care practices with one another! I hope you and your loved ones are staying as healthy as possible.