Anyone who isn’t currently practicing social distancing is putting others at risk.
With the COVID-19 Coronavirus on the loose, many people are retreating to their homes and avoiding large groups, i.e. social distancing. Not all are finding this is easy, with the Millennials and Gen Z’s getting most of the blame. Whether you’re currently serving a 14 day self isolation, or you’re still working and living life, you’ve likely noticed an increased level of boredom. Most places are closed, events are cancelled, and even hanging out with friends is frowned upon. So what are you supposed to do during this quarantine?
Well, my friends, it sounds like the perfect time to practice self care!
Pamper Your Body
With the added amount of stress due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, your body is likely in less than optimal health. Social distancing provides us with an unlimited amount of time for self care without feeling guilty. We don’t have to sacrifice time for self care because we suddenly have an abundance of it. (Besides, with all the frequent hand washing and cleaning, I’m sure we could all use a little extra pampering.)
1. Soak in the bathtub with a bath bomb or Epsom salts.
2. Take a thermotherapy shower by starting hot and finishing cold.
3. Give yourself a manicure or pedicure.
4. Deep condition your hair.
5. Apply a face mask.
7. Exfoliate.
8. Moisturize.
9. Give yourself a massage.
10. Try acupressure.
11. Get plenty of sleep.
12. Do a detox.
13. Drink lots of water.
14. Make a smoothie or fresh green juice.
Work on Your Mental Health
The media coverage on the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic has us all stressing out. All of the stress and anxiety is bound to have a detrimental effect on our mental health. Plus, having to stay isolated can exacerbate those symptoms. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to use this time of self isolation and social distancing to work on improving our mood and mental health.
15. Try online cognitive behavior therapy.
16. Sign up for talk therapy via video conference.
17. Practice meditation.
18. Listen to music.
19. Do yoga.
20. Write in a journal.
21. Light incense or diffuse essential oils.
22. Listen to a podcast.
23. Find a way to help a charity.
24. Read a self help book.
25. Nurture a house plant.
Laugh and Play
Self care should never be all work and no play. In fact, laughter is a great mood booster and we should find all kinds of ways to laugh and be playful, even while social distancing.
26. Play a video game or app.
27. Play a board game.
28. Work on a large puzzle.
29. Doodle a mandala.
30. Watch your favorite movies.
31. Laugh along with some stand up comedy or a funny movie.
Keep in Touch
We often think of self care as being alone but taking care of ourselves means doing good things for others, spending time with those we love and sharing pieces of who we are. This might seem hard to do while practicing social distancing, but there are still ways to keep in touch with others.
32. Call a friend.
33. Video chat with someone.
34. Make a YouTube video.
35. Write someone an email.
36. Send a letter.
37. Mail a care package.
38. Deliver gift baskets to neighbors.
39. Decorate your front window.
40. Host a Netflix watch party.
Spend Time Outside
We need to spend as much time outside as possible while social distancing. Of course it’s important to stay away from crowds and limit our interactions as much as possible, but accessing fresh air is so important for our bodies both physically and mentally.
41. Sit in your backyard.
42. Take a nap outside.
43. Lounge in a hammock.
44. Do yard work.
45. Go for a walk around the neighborhood.
46. Go for a drive in the country.
47. Eat a meal outside.
48. Pitch a tent in your backyard and camp out for a night.
49. Paint your fence or deck.
50. Make a fairy garden.
51. Paint some rocks.
52. Have an outdoor bonfire.
Declutter Your Space
Decluttering is a form of self care because it’s something that we tend to put off doing. Then the clutter sits there, reminding us of our failures and causing undue stress. Use this time at home to deep clean, declutter and minimize possessions.
53. Deep clean your kitchen and bathrooms.
54. Repaint or redecorate a room in your house.
55. Sort through your wardrobe and donate any clothes you don’t wear.
56. Organize your home KonMari style.
57. Clean out your closets.
58. Sort through your shoes.
59. Sort through your accessories and jewelry.
60. Declutter your cabinets.
61. Clean out your makeup bag.
62. Clean the garage or basement.
63. Go through all your old electronics, DVD’s, CD’s, cables, etc.
Tap into your Artistic Side
Art therapy is a super important way to practice self care while social distancing. Being creative means using our brains as well as developing hand eye coordination. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artistic person, you might be surprised with what you can come up with.
64. Draw or paint a picture.
65. Sketch something outside your window.
66. Color in a coloring book.
67. Create your own story book.
68. Make a craft completely out of recycled material.
69. Build something out of wood.
70. Make your own dough and sculpt something.
71. Build a bird house.
72. Bake cookies, cupcakes or some other type of delicious dessert.
73. Cook a hearty homemade soup or stew.
74. Start an indoor herb garden.
75. Sew, knit, crochet or macrame.
Learn Something New
Use this opportunity to learn something. Learning is a way to improve our brain health. Plus it offers a distraction from anxiety and loneliness and can boost our self esteem. As adults, we often refrain from learning new things, or we start them but never seem them through. Learning a new skill or hobby is truly making the most of social distancing.
76. Take an online class.
77. Watch YouTube tutorial videos.
78. Read an instructional book.
79. Watch a documentary.
80. Find a new way to utilize something you don’t use anymore.
81. Take an online photography course.
82. Practice hand lettering or calligraphy.
83. Learn how to play a musical instrument.
Get Your Heart Pumping
Exercise is one of the most important parts of self care. There’s no excuses while locked up at home with nothing to do. If your local gym is closed, check to see if they’re offering online workout videos instead. And don’t worry if you don’t have a home gym, there are so many different ways to stay physically active at home.
84. Ride a stationary bike or run on a treadmill.
85. Try some online workout videos.
86. Stretch.
87. Dance.
88. Plank.
89. Run up and down the stairs.
90. Focus on improving your pelvic floor health.
91. Work out with an exercise ball.
92. Skip rope.
93. Climb a tree.
94. Do squats and/or lunges.
95. Jump on a trampoline.
Be Present
The world looks a little scary right now. Try to focus on the positive aspects instead. We are living in a moment of history, so document it. Take photos, write about it and enjoy every single moment. Use your time wisely and continue to have hope for the future. When this is all over, will you come out of it a better person?
96. Take at least one photo each day.
97. Cuddle with your spouse, kids, pet or even a stuffed animal.
98. Sit peacefully and do absolutely nothing.
99. Work on your bucket list.
100. Make a list of everything you miss doing and plan to do again once this global pandemic is over.
