Ten Self-Care Tips for Quarantine

---

2020 has been quite the ride for us due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As we close in upon our 9th month of quarantine, many of us are struggling to mentally keep our head above water. It is so easy to get stuck on the couch and waste the days away with little to no productivity. This can lead to feelings of depression and a lack of fulfillment.

One of the best ways I have found to remain both motivated and productive is to practice self-care. Self-care has many benefits not only for yourself, but for the people around you. For yourself, you will feel more confidence, happiness and willingness to get things done . The people around you will feed off of that energy. Win-win for everyone!

Some of these may sound vain, but I’ve discovered that taking care of my appearance has also been good for my mental health. When you take care of yourself and enjoy what you see in the mirror, you automatically feel good on the inside. The bottom line is you should do whatever it is that brings you joy. If you have been having trouble figuring out what that is then here is a list of things that I have been doing and it may help you too:

1. Hop out of the PJs

2. Make a task list

On Sunday evenings I like to take a few minutes to plan my week by making a list of all the things I want to accomplish. The App, Microsoft To-Do is the best for keeping me on top of my tasks. For me, going into the week without a plan means going into a week that will lack productivity.

3. Start a manifest board

Whether you’re an avid believer in manifesting your wildest dreams or you’re new to the concept- try it. Different from a task list, a manifest board allows you to visualize your short term and long term goals. Try setting 0-12 month goals, 1-5 years, and then 5-10. At the bare minimum this will allow you practice thinking more positively.

4. Put your phone down

“Social media is the toilet of the internet.”

lady gaga

Digital detoxes are extremely beneficial, especially in a time like this. We live in a digital world where oftentimes we compare ourselves to the fabricated lives portrayed by strangers on social media. Lady Gaga said it best herself, “Social media is the toilet of the internet.” Give yourself a break often by doing tasks without bringing your phone. Going for a walk? Leave your phone at home. Soaking in the tub for some R&R? Leave your phone in another room.

5. Learn something new every day

With all the extra time on our hands, learning something new every day is essential to keeping the mind stimulated. I’ve been into brushing up on my history lately. Not going to lie, history was just not my forte in grade school. It had a lot to do with the timing I moved to the States. I started learning American History in the 6th grade when my peers were already light-years ahead of me in the subject. Luckily, I discovered a couple of YouTube channels that makes history extremely enjoyable for me. If you’re interested, check out OverSimplified and Drunk History.

6. Cook something you’ve been craving

I have yet to meet a human who doesn’t enjoy the luxury of eating delicious food. Even if you have never cooked anything before, give it a shot! Cooking is a lot easier than you think and you can find loads of recipes from Pinterest. I’ve really been into Souffle pancakes recently and I’ve made it about 3 times so far and have yet to perfect it. I cook almost daily, but I’m still learning new techniques like mastering the meringue.

7. Do your makeup

I told you some of these were a little vain, but trust me! Looking good from the outside can make you feel better from within. If you typically enjoyed doing your makeup prior to quarantine, fear not- you can still do your makeup at home. Makeup is such an enjoyable hobby of mine and although I am no makeup artist I certainly get a boost of confidence in myself when I’m made up. I’m not entirely sure if a study has been done on this yet, but I’m going to go on a whim and say doing my makeup increases my dopamine levels 🙂

8. Go extra hard on your skincare

Believe it or not, skin care is also a form of self-care. I mean, really anything that makes you happy and confident in yourself is a form of self care. That being said, take the extra time to pamper yourself in the mornings and evenings. My skincare routine takes me about 15 minutes in the AM and PM. I tend to go all out with an eight-step system, but a simple mask and whatever else you use regularly works wonders. Spend an extra few moments cleansing your face. If you’d like to see my skincare routine and how I achieved the best skin of my life, stay tuned for that post!

9. Give yourself a spa mani and pedi

This may be one of the best things I’ve discovered during quarantine. Giving myself a spa mani and pedi is one of the most relaxing things I’ve done. I simply take a bucket with warm water and Epsom salt, soak my feet for about 15 minutes and go to town on scrubbing, lathering and removing dead skin from my feet. I even purchased all of the salon tools (cuticle pusher, nipper, and pumice sponge) from Amazon so I’m able to achieve salon looking nails right from home. Did I mention this is way cheaper and a way better experience than actually going to the salon?

10. Take some alone time for yourself

If you are stuck in a house full of people, it can take a mental strain on everyone. Prior to quarantine we all had our own identities- jobs, classes, sports, leisure activities, and so on. Although in many ways this pandemic has made us closer to our friends and families, it is still important to take some alone time to refuel. Whether that means going for a walk, listening to music, watching a movie, or playing video games, take your time alone and set boundaries so other members in your household understands. You may also inspire others to do the same.

Bonus (and crucial) tip: Get moving!

Remain active and move your body in any which way possible. If you’re having a hard time working out at home, try putting on some music and dance like no one is watching! There are tons of workout videos on YouTube. I personally love Whitney Simmons for guided weight training workouts. My favorite quarantine workout discovery has been Pilates. I find that it instantly relieves stress and gives me a good burn the next day. It is both challenging and and relaxing at the same time. If you’re interested you can check out my favorite instructor, Move with Nicole.

---

Thank you for reading!

If you have any other self-care tips to survive quarantine, I would love to hear them in the comment section. Now go slay your quarantine day!