Self-care During Quarantine
Who would have ever thought this was something I’d be sharing through a blog post? Times are weird, and we’re all learning to adjust to our new normal.
School, cancelled.
Work, cancelled.
Sports, cancelled.
Choir concerts, dance and tumbling, cancelled.
Life? Cancelled.
I kid—but it kind of feels like it, yes?
I’ve been working from home since 2014, and some days/weeks/months are so chaotic, I’m just lucky to get from day-to-day, and there have been so many times I’ve said “if only I had two weeks of a clear schedule…”
And for so many of us, that has actually been gifted to us—in less than ideal circumstances, but a gift nonetheless.
And on the flip side, maybe this is the hardest season you’ve seen in a while, and it’s been nothing but stress and anxiety. You’re worried about getting the bills paid or if the economy will rebound. Maybe you’ve been sick, and you’re just trying to recover. Maybe this just really, really sucks, and you’re feeling completely alone. I want you to know that you are not alone.
Whatever this quarantine looks like for you, I feel like self-care is an important topic to cover. Mind and body.
Mind.
If this has been an extreme source of stress for you, I have a few tips that may help.
Rest when your body says rest. I know this is so hard, and I’m the poster child for staying up til 4 am watching Netflix because I shove this need aside. However, we need to stay healthy and available to our spouses, children, pets, OR whoever we’re currently shacked up with, right? So, allow your body to rest. You know when you need it. You know when your mind is racing, and your heart says “be still.” Put your phone down, turn it off, place it in an area outside of your room and lay down. Rest your eyes. Rest your heart. You may not take one of those “what year is it?!” kind of naps, but you’re shutting off the stimulation that’s encouraging your anxious heart, and there’s healing in that.
Read your Bible, pray, quiet time. I’m not sure how much of a priority religion is in your life, so if this doesn’t apply to you, feel free to skip! A friend of mine gifted me THIS BIBLE for Christmas, and IT’S been ONE OF THE MOST meaningful gifts I’ve ever received. It’s the Bible broken down into a coffee table book layout, and it makes the scripture easier for my brain to read and digest. I often realize that when I’m feeling anxious, out of control or my worry has taken control of my brain, that’s God reaching out and saying “Hey, I’m right here.” Listen to that. Soak it up, even if you aren’t sure what exactly you’re reading or what message He’s trying to get across. If you don’t typically open your Bible and this feels unnatural or unfamiliar, sometimes just the exercise of reading will reveal what you’re supposed to be hearing.
Read for fun! What a novel concept, am I right? Grab an old favorite off the shelf, turn your phone off, and get lost for a couple of hours. If you need a good suggestion, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is my favorite book of all time, and everyone should read it at least once.
Devotionals or Gratitude Journaling. Gratitude changes everything. When I focus on what I’m grateful for, my own problemS seem to pale in comparison. Despite what stressors or hardships you’re feeling right now, a gratitude journal is a great way to BRING yourself through the process of focusing on good.
Exercise. Yes, this benefits your mental health, too. Yoga, take a walk, ride bikes with your kiddos, shoot hoops, do a planking challenge with your friends. We all know the benefits of exercise, and my biggest downfall is saying I’m too busy to commit the time. Lies! So get out there and breathe the air and sweat a little. Outside isn’t cancelled.
Schedule a facetime/zoom chat with your friends. Jammies, tea, a glass of wine or my personal favorite—Tito’s, ginger ale and two limes and just catch up. A virtual slumber party with those who know your secrets and love you anyway, that’s a good therapy session right there.
Squeeze the snot out of your loved ones. This is the best kind of medicine. Put that phone down, turn off that TV, and hug and squeeze and kiss your partner, those adorable kids of yours, your dog, cat or gerbil. Home is where the heart is, home is where my heart is. Whenever I’m starting to feel burnt out or anxious, it’s nothing my babies can’t cure with a hug, a slow dance around the kitchen and a little Yahtzee.
Body.
Don’t ever feel guilty about giving yourself some TLC.
At home facial. If I’m gonna run around this house with a messy bun from 1972 in the same leggings for four days straight, at least my skin is gonna glow. Am I wrong? My favorite way to do this is by cleansing, then using a Tinkle razor to dermaplane my face, then follow up with this berry scrub, and rejuveniqe oil. I do this about once every 10 days. If you have kids, bring them into the mix! I wouldn’t recommend coming at them with the razor, but the face mask can be fun for the whole fam.
Hair treatment. This is so easy, and you can throw your hair in a bun and leave it in for as long as you want! I apply Rejuveniqe oil roots to ends, and brush through (focusing on a good scalp massage with a boar’s hair brush), then add ten pumps of leave-in conditioner and following that up with half a vial of this hyaluronic serum. Comb through and pull hair back, and you’re done! Wash out whenever you want, I won’t judge you if that cocktail stays in for three days, I get it.
Shave your legs. Just, do it. It makes me feel prepared for I don’t know what, but I feel more put together in these leggings and sweatshirt if my legs are shaved.
Drink an offensive amount of water. Hook up with your friends and make this a challenge! The numbers are all over the map on what’s recommended, but 64 oz a day is a good starting point! I’ve started to add lemon juice to my water, here are some great benefits to drinking THIS water!
Bronze yo’self. A spray tan is sometimes the simple thing I need for a pick-me-up. I feel like a vampire most of the time, and since I’m not wearing makeup and rarely leaving my house, this is needed. Here’s a breakdown of the products I love most!
Face: this facial bronzing mist or thESE SELF-TAN DROPS ARE AWESOME. I love the spray for the true color it gives me, but the mist can be a mess and get all over the floor if you aren’t careful. Tip? Apply to a clean foundation brush (that you will designate for only a self-tan) and then rub it in circles over your face and neck. The drops are easier (just apply a dropper with your moisturizer or serum before bed), but I still vote for the mist for color. Something else I’ve tried a couple of times is this TANNING spray, and it’s great for those who have fair skin and need just a little bit of added color.
Body: This bronzing mousse is my favorite for my body, and I always apply it with a TANNING APPLICATOR mitt.
Of course, I could have listed a million things you can do for self-care, but these are just a few of my favorites. Other winners are a Netflix binge, bubble bath, or losing yourself in the Tiktok mayhem.
However you decide to get through the next few weeks, you have permission to take care of you. You are not alone. If you start to feel more anxious, upset, unsure, paralyzed or more fearful, this is my reach out to you—find me. DM me. Email me. Text me. But please, reach out. You’re not alone, you have a cheering section, a prayer warrior thinking of you often, and we’ll get through this together.
