Self-Care at Home
By: Elizabeth Koblenz, LMSW
Self-care is known as activities or tasks that one plans to do for the betterment of themselves. Self-care can be anything from meditating to going for a run. As social distancing continues, and we are all spending more time at home, it is important to remember that carving out time for self-care is important. We may forget the importance of taking time for ourselves and feel that because we are home, it may not matter. However, it is important to recognize that even though we are not commuting to and from work and attending other activities, we still need to take time to spend on ourselves. Self-care can help achieve the feeling of being recharged and refreshed.
Here are five self-care ideas to engage in during quarantine:
Exercise: If exercise is an activity that you did outside of home, try to come up with a new routine while you are at home. There are numerous fitness apps that are user friendly that include exercises that can be done at home. Additionally, many fitness studios are live streaming on their individual Instagram accounts. Finding time to exercise during the day will help reduce stress and get your blood circulating. Try working out a few times a week. It will allow you to take time to focus on you and feel more energized!
Cooking: If cooking is something you have always wanted to get into, now can be a great time to make that new recipe that you have had your eye on. Cooking is a great way to take your mind into a creative space and can also be a great therapeutic outlet. Finding recipes that you are excited about and carving out time to prep and cook your meal can be a great and rewarding way to spend your time. Cooking yourself a meal is a great way to spend your self-care time!
Unwind: Take this opportunity to enjoy the down time. We are usually running to make our next appointment, meet up with friends or simply just keep up with our lives. Although you may miss seeing your friends and the hustle and bustle on your everyday, you can seize this opportunity to relax and enjoy the quiet down time. There are a slew of new TV shows to watch and lots of great books to read. As a bonus, you can create a virtual book club with friends or family—this is a great way to spend your downtime wile staying connected!
Journal: As we spend time at home away from our friends and family, it is not uncommon for new emotions to surface surrounding feeling isolated, lonely, or sad. Journaling can be a great way to spill out your feelings. Take time out of your day to write down some of the things you are feeling and then try balancing it out with a few things that you are grateful for - big or small. Writing out what you are grateful for can help shift your perspective into a more positive point of view.
Beauty Routines: It is important to continue your beauty regiments and take care of yourself, even while staying home. Although the hair and nail salons are closed, you can still do your own at-home manicures and blowouts. Take this time to try that face mask that has been sitting around or try out a new hair treatment. Being able to feel a sense of normalcy, even if it is for yourself, is a great way to utilize self-care time to feel confident and empowered.
If you are interested in learning how to incorporate self-care into your daily life, or are interested in working with Elizabeth directly, feel free to give us a call today. We look forward to hearing from you!