12 Helpful Self-Care Tips To Follow At Home During This Pandemic

We’ve all been feeling listless since the lockdown, and working tirelessly while in isolation with no contact from the outside world other than the news, can lead to feelings of helplessness. At this crucial time, we all need to keep our spirits high and take care of ourselves in order to stay sane and keep the fight against this pandemic going. And that’s exactly why we’ve compiled a list of self-care tips for y’all to follow in these dire circumstances that’ll help you stay calm and positive. Read on!

1. Exercise

Picture Credits: nachiketayoga

It’s vital we continuously move our body, especially during lockdown when we’re the idlest, and a quick 30 mins workout at home can do the trick. Not only does a little exercise help keep away the quarantine belly but it will leave you more energised, positive, cheerful and with a feeling of accomplishment. It will also help you become more productive, pick up a simple exercise routine online (if you’re a beginner) and feel your muscles move! 

2. Read A Book 

Picture Credits: thereaddicts

This is the perfect time to refamiliarise yourself with reading if it was something you had fallen out of touch with. Books are the perfect companions when we’re feeling lonely, ready to take you on a virtual journey away from the real world for a few hours. So pick up a novel you’d been meaning to read but never got around to it, and dive right in within the pages! 

3. Pick Up A Hobby Or Learn Something New 

Picture Credits: whimsical_remedy

Now is the perfect time to pick up a hobby and get those creative juices flowing. While stuck in isolation, why not make the best of the given time and pick up a new skill that fills the boredom, keep our thoughts away from darkness and make us happy? Watercolour painting, macrame crafts and dot mandala art are all the rage right now, so choose a skill, pick up a tutorial video from the net and get to creating! 

4. Keep In Touch With Friends And Family 

Don’t forget to always stay in contact with family and friends if you’re staying alone. They’ll always be your pillar of support and with the days dragging by in isolation, it is pretty easy to disengage from the world and withdraw into your shell. It is also during this time that we’ll all suffer from homesickness, so give your family and friends a call and let them be there for you in these tough times! They surely help cheer you up!

5. Don’t Push Yourself Too Hard

It’s alright to take it easy once in a while. No one expects you to be a superhero and have all the answers, after all, we’re all human and it’s alright to take a backseat sometimes instead of always pushing yourself and in the process stressing yourself out. So take a break and take some time off before you strive for all your goals again and maybe the rest will give you a fresh start or a new take on your goals! 

6. Breathe, Do Yoga Or Meditation 

Picture Credits: yogita_2001

We’re all stressed out with pandemic, but it is crucial we calm down and assess the situation with a rational mindset. And this is the perfect time to take out 15 mins from your busy schedule and practise yoga, mindfulness or meditation. You can also work on breathing exercises that help improve your lung capacity and help in fighting against COVID! So take that time out to be zen and have a cuppa to calm yourself down. Whatever works for you!

7. Cook Meals At Home 

Picture Credits: foodeversquad

There’s nothing better than home-cooked meals, are we right? This is why,  now is the perfect time for you to experiment in the kitchen and work your hands to create magic, even if it comes out burnt. Hey, at least we tried! So look up how to bake or maybe follow one of those viral recipes online that just seem too good to be true, and bust out those cooking skills like a pro! 

8. Take A Break From News 

While we know keeping in touch with the news and what’s going around the world is important, it is also alright to take a break from it once in a while, especially when your mental health is suffering. In these times of pandemic, most of the information around the world can become pretty overwhelming and stressful. So instead of constantly looking at your news apps, why not go through the news once in the morning, and then mute them for the rest of the day instead of constantly checking your phone for updates?! 

9. Declutter Your Home 

Picture Credits: bohoo_homes

The best way to spend time at home that is also super productive and helps in better concentration? Well, declutter your space! We know you’re wondering what decluttering has anything to do with mental health and well, let’s just say - loads! The minute you start clearing your room or home, throwing out or donating old clothes, tools, and items you need around the house, not only will your focus improve but having a good clean environment will make you feel good and better. So pick up a shelf each day and give it a nice spring clean! 

10. Create A Daily Schedule Or Start Journaling 

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Let’s just say that you’re not expected to create and follow an airtight and stringent schedule like something you’ll see in a military movie. Nope, but the idea behind creating a daily schedule is to identify what kind of activities and tasks you need to complete on a specific day and maybe follow the plan loosely to make the best out of your day. Not only will this help in collating all your tasks in one place but will also act as a reminder for your next activity. You can also start journaling and recording your progress - just have fun with it and create memories! 

11. Take A Guilt-Free Mental Health Day

If the pressure of the situation has started to get you down or you’re stressing constantly about the pandemic, you’re most likely too strung out with constant work pressure, the environment and the raging cases and are in dire need of a break. It can become overwhelming too quickly, so it’s okay to take a day off and get your thoughts in order, without feeling guilty about skipping out. After all, your mental health should be among your top priority - and frankly, you’re bound to be more efficient once you take some time off! 

12. Make A Rocking Playlist And Enjoy A Solo Dance Party At Home 

Picture Credits: arecaroe

Who says we can’t have the time of our lives even in these tough times? There is no ‘correct time’ to let loose and have fun. So, go ahead and make that rocking playlist with all your favourite songs, dim the lights of your room, keep a few drinks and snacks handy and just rock it out while you bust out those killer moves! Music can always make us feel better and lift up our spirits so get your friends on a group call and just let go! 

And if you’re feeling extremely depressed and lethargic even after practising self-care, get in touch with an online counsellor or book yourself a teleconsultation with a platform that’ll help you alleviate the stress and work out your issues in a safe space! Keep strong and take out some time for yourself!