You should try to take better care of yourself during the pandemic, paying special attention to your mental health.
The pandemic has a way of messing with even the most organized routine. The stress of the news cycle, the isolation, and all that time spent indoors makes it easy for the hours to blend together and lose meaning.
Eating, showering, working and watching Netflix might be the only things you have mental space for, and that’s okay. But every day you should try to work a little bit on yourself, making yourself feel better even if the world feels crazier than ever. Focusing on our needs will help us function better and be a better and more considerate part of society. Here are 5 self-care tips we should all be using now.
Make a list of things you’re grateful for
When we’re depressed and anxious it’s easy to focus on all the bad and stressful things going on in our lives, forgetting about the good parts. Think about whatever good thing is going on in your life and highlight it. Writing it down will help you get some perspective. It’s also nice to see all of the good stuff piled up together. Plus, the more you focus on the good things in your life, the more good things you’ll receive.
Set work boundaries
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Working from home demands a lot of discipline. It’s very easy to blur the lines between your work time and your free time if you don’t have to physically leave your house. If you started off quarantine with a strict routine that has slowly fallen apart, it’s time to start again. Switch things up by making simple changes, such as waking up a bit earlier or taking a shower first thing in the morning. These small tweaks can help you be more productive in the long run.
Limit your news intake
At some point you have to stop reading the news and all the heartbreaking reporting that’s going on. While you should still remain informed, try catching up on news twice a day for a period of 15 minutes. Even better, try to limit your news intake to once a day, preferably before the end of the day.
Challenge yourself to read more
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Try reading that book or article you’ve been meaning to read for weeks, pushing yourself for about 30 minutes a day. This small challenge is a good amount of time for people who can’t focus enough to read entire books. The more you practice, the more likely you’ll start reading more. Reading before bed is a good habit to pick up nowadays, especially if it replaces your late night social media habit.
Develop a bedtime routine
Routines are extremely helpful for developing habits that ultimately benefit your health, including sleep. Try to maintain a steady routine before bed, such as limiting your screen time, having tea, reading a book or meditating. It can be as simple as just laying in bed at the same time every night — anything to help you wind down.
Hopefully these 5 self-care tips we should all be using now is helpful.
