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Inspiration May 19, 2020
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…
Being the go-getter that you are, you don’t want to just survive in this pandemic, you want to thrive. Here are five self-care tips to get you moving in the right direction. Don’t worry if your state is coming out of lockdown soon. These self-care tips will still be relevant for the second wave.
If you desire to thrive during this difficult time, you MUST be gracious. First and foremost with yourself and secondly with others. At the risk of sounding too cliche, these are unprecedented times. Most of us have never lived through anything similar to this, yourself included. Working from the assumption that we are all doing the best that we can at this moment, will go a long way.
Maybe you’re struggling to focus or be productive. Maybe you’re a bit more anxious than usual, understandably so. Instead of being hard on yourself, try a different response, and be gracious with yourself. Is your overachieving co-worker driving you crazy with the extra emails? Give them grace. Is your mom is calling you every day since you’re WFH? Give her grace too. Are your partner’s annoying habits at an all-time high? You know what to do.
We are ALL doing the best we can right now. That extra bit of grace might be the difference between losing your mind and staying sane while you’re safer at home.
The 21st Century offers no shortages of ways to stay connected. Whether it’s FaceTime, House Party, Zoom, or just good old fashioned talking on the phone, there are so many ways to reach out and connect.
We know that humans thrive on connection, now more than ever. Even though we may not be together physically, we are not alone on this journey. We are weathering the same storm, we just are on different boats. Try reaching out to one person a day. Commit to one social activity a week. Whether it’s your work friend’s virtual happy hour or your cousin’s 30th birthday on Zoom. Even if you don’t feel like it at the moment, you might enjoy it later.
Seriously! The most underrated of all self-care tips out there is to drink enough water.
Staying hydrated is vital to your well-being. Everyone knows that water is good for your body. All of your organs need water to function at their optimal capacity. But did you know that water is just as crucial to maintaining your mental health as well? Dehydration can lead to higher anxiety, more frequent panic attacks, an inability to focus, and increased fatigue. Yikes!
Conversely, consuming adequate water can be calming, help you sleep better, and help maintain clear skin. Hello, new skincare routine! Let’s be honest, we can all use a little more calm during these uncertain times. Put one of your (many) super-cute tumblers to good use, start chugging today!
The ancient philosopher Plato said that “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Boy was he right!
Right now, many of our favorite places are closed. Our family and friends aren’t near. Our usual outlets aren’t available. Perhaps, we’re even short on resources. Yet, it is in our human nature to create. We have to figure out diverse solutions to our current problems. We need our hobbies and pastimes that bring us happiness and joy. Whether it’s baking a new recipe, painting a canvas, starting a podcast, or trying new home workouts, there is ample space to create.
If there was ever a time to think outside the box, it’s now. Our world is changing in ways we never really imagined. Although that thought might be daunting or scary, finding a creative outlet can be vastly beneficial for you. Try creating something today, even if it just a fancy cocktail you saw on TikTok, that counts too! If you don’t know where to start, try here.
No one really knows what is going to happen. Our society is shifting without a clear blueprint. Our standards of productivity are changing. Incessant worrying about situations we have no control over causes stress to our body. Stress in the body lowers the immune system. We need our immune systems to be high-functioning right now.
Give yourself permission to let go, even if it’s just a little bit. Maybe you need to physically let go. Take a couple of deep breaths. Release the tension in your neck and jaw. Maybe you need to emotionally and mentally let go of all the unreasonable pressures we put on ourselves to be perfectly put-together. We’re in the midst of a pandemic for crying out loud! Read another chapter from the book you’re engrossed in, it’s okay. Sleep in for an extra hour, the world will keep spinning I promise. Eat your dessert for breakfast, I won’t tell anyone, scout’s honor.
There are so many things that we can’t control right now. It’s quite scary to think about. But what we can control is how we’re treating ourselves, and how kind we’re being to ourselves and others. Be gracious enough to let go for a little while. Let your hair down and let loose. Your body will thank you later, trust me.
If you’re like me and you need help coping with quarantine, here’s a list of ideas that might help.
While life is a strange storm right now, may these self-care tips help calm your storm within. Here’s to thriving during quarantine, ladies! Cheers!
