Self-care has been such a buzzword during the pandemic. Given the stress and hassle that come with this unprecedented time, it’s essential to take good care of yourself. Doing so goes beyond boosting your physical health to protect your body from the threat of the novel coronavirus. It’s also about fostering your mental health to avoid having pain, grief, stress, anxiety, and even depression. Ultimately, it’s about promoting your overall well-being.
It’s good that there are plenty of practical ways to care for yourself. Fret not, as we’ve rounded up some helpful self-care tips for you. Here’s how to take good care of yourself during this pandemic:
1. Acknowledge the situation and be realistic
The first thing to do is to acknowledge the pandemic. It’s essential to understand the severity of the situation and how it can impact you and your family. Assess how home isolation and restrictive movements can affect physical activities, social interaction, emotional well-being, and mental stability. Once you acknowledge the situation, you can now take action towards improving your situation. However, be as realistic as possible with your action plans.
2. Establish a healthy habit
Now that you’ve acknowledged the pandemic situation, you can now set some action plans for self-care. The best course of action is to establish a healthy habit during this pandemic. This includes getting enough sleep, eating properly, drinking plenty of water, having regular exercises, limiting your phone time, and pursuing physical activities indoors. All these will help keep you physically healthy and mentally strong.
3. Draw the line between your professional and personal life
A year after the COVID-19 outbreak, the majority of the businesses worldwide have already adopted the WFH policy. In fact, 61 percent of employees prefer to work remotely for good.
If you’re one of these employees, you’ve probably experienced the challenge of separating your personal and professional life. Chances are, you find it hard to juggle between managing the household and doing your job at home. When it comes to this, time management is the key. Create a schedule by allotting half of the time for work and the rest for yourself and your family.
4. Establish a support system
It’s essential to have a strong support system during this pandemic. As the pandemic restrictions set you apart from your friends and bring you closer to your family, now is the best time to boost your relationships. Keep in mind that your spouse is your armor and your children are your strengths. Your family must be your support system where everyone helps one another. When it comes to boosting a family relationship, communication is key. Be sure to always have an open line of communication.
5. Pursue your hobbies and interests
The COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t have to stop you from pursuing your hobbies and interests. Sure, it may have halted some of your valued forms of activities. However, you can always find alternative ways to continue these activities. For instance, if you’re into physical fitness, you can set up a gym at home. You can enroll in an esthetician school and learn various spa treatments and techniques if you’re into beauty and wellness. If you love reading and writing, you have all the time to do so as you’re stuck at home during this pandemic.
6. Have ‘me’ time
“Me” time is crucial for your self-care during this pandemic. Sure, you may find it hard to juggle your household chores and work from home. As much as possible, you have to keep up with your job regularly.
On the other hand, you must manage the household while caring for your spouse and raising your kids. It’s essential, however, to allow a particular time for yourself. Unwind and pamper yourself if you must. Watch a movie, listen to good music, and read a good book. Or it can be as simple as sitting back, relaxing, and doing nothing.
7. Ask for help
Self-care isn’t only about taking care of yourself; it’s also about asking for help. If you’re stressed enough, be sure to seek help from your spouse and children. If you’re becoming anxious and depressed, know that your family is your support system, so be sure to communicate with them. But if you start showing signs of emotional and mental problems, it’s best to see your shrink or get therapy as early as possible.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, self-care is now more critical than ever. Be sure to consider our self-care tips discussed above, from acknowledging the pandemic situation to establishing a support system down to having ‘me’ time. With all these essential steps, you’ll protect your body from the coronavirus, foster your mental health, and promote your overall well-being.
