Self Care During A Pandemic

Author: Jojo Varona

During this time of uncertainty, it is important to take good care of yourself. Spending time each day practicing self-care is a great opportunity to improve your attitude and productivity. Neglecting to take care of yourself can lead to more stress and physical and mental fatigue. But if it’s so obvious, why is it hard for people to take care of their well-being?

Most of the time, people give excuses of not having enough time or they do not understand what self-care entails.

Here are a few self-care tips to improve your quality of life and be more productive.

Listen to what your body is telling you.

Your body has the final say in terms of self-care. When you are always feeling tired and exhausted, your body is telling you to slow down and take a pause. It’s not easy to be productive when your energy is drained. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercise are all key parts to a healthy body and mind. For me, going to the gym is not my favorite thing to do. However, I know that exercise and getting your body moving is key to a healthy lifestyle. So, I combined my interest in going to different neighborhoods and walking everywhere as my form of exercise. Walking at least 3-4 miles a day (and longer on the weekends) is a great way to get some cardiovascular workout and I also get to explore the city.

Create Morning and Nighttime Routines

Having a regular morning and nighttime schedule will literally change your life. Spend some time when you wake up in the morning to list goals on what you want to accomplish for the day – both personally and professionally. It doesn’t have to be complicated or detailed – just write a list on what you want to get done. At night, look back on your list and see if you have done all the things that you set out to do. Your nighttime routine should start by trying to be calm and decompress from your day. Take time off to stay away from your bright artificial lights such as your phone, tv, or any other technology that can keep you distracted from getting a good night’s sleep.

Start a new hobby or revisit an old one

It is easy to get lost with work even when you are away from the office or your computer. Do something for yourself that you enjoy that is not work-related. If you haven’t read a book in a while, read something just for fun. Pick up the instrument that you haven’t played in a couple of years. Try a new recipe that you have been meaning to cook. I love to cook but didn’t think I had the time to do it. So, I make it a point every week to find a new recipe that I want to try and create everything from scratch. Your health and happiness should be your number one priority, and having a hobby can have a positive impact on both.

Everyone has a different idea on how to self-care. You might try something and realize that it is not for you. Remember that practice makes progress, not perfect. The key is to find things that work for you.