The community quarantine in Luzon and in many other areas of the country has been extended to continue our efforts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and to help flatten the curve of the virus. This means we’ll still be spending a lot more time at home and practice strict social distancing when in public. Most of our frontliners are exhausted saving lives, while our health and government officials try to come up with policies and ways to overcome this crisis that is destabilizing every aspect of our economy.
The current situation is making us feel overwhelmed and helpless. That’s why now, more than ever before, we have to take care of ourselves and prioritize our emotional and mental health. When we take care of ourselves, we can take care of our family and also be of help to our community. Here are some self-care tips and reminders to help us cope through this uncertain time.
1. Limit information intake and take a break from social media.
While it’s important to stay informed, constantly watching and thinking about the news will only feed us fear and anxiety. These are things you can’t control, thus will make you feel powerless. Taking a break from media exposure will help reduce stress and give your mind room for positivity so you can make the best choices. Also, with the rampant spread of fake news, it’s critical to stick to reliable sources and guides rather than believing somebody’s post you’ve just seen on your news feed.
2. Maintain connections and routines.
With social distancing and community quarantine in place, our usual activities were definitely tossed in the sidelines. Because it was a drastic and abrupt change, it’s crucial to try to maintain your routine as best as you can. Stick to a schedule so your days will have more structure, purpose, and help yourself settle with this kind of normalcy.
And while we may be physically distancing, keep in close contact with your family and friends outside your home through calls, texts, or even video calls via Skype or Zoom. Likewise, remember that everyone might be in the same situation but we could be riding on different boats so some may have it worse. Don’t forget to ask for help and support when you need it, and also offer help to someone who’s in need.
3. Keep up your personal hygiene.
It’s easier to not prioritize our hygiene when we’re just stuck at home, with days (or even weeks!) of not going out in public. However, a quick shower at the start or end of our day goes a long way. Besides, this ongoing health crisis is enough reason for us to be “OC” when it comes to cleanliness and proper hygiene. If you can, have some fun elevating your personal hygiene by using relaxing face masks or having an at-home mani/pedi to take better care of yourself.
4. Stretch and stay active.
The stay-at-home order to help flatten the curve doesn’t mean we have to lounge around on our couch most of the day (also spelled as couch potato). Even if you aren’t in the mood to sweat a full workout, make sure you stretch. Setting aside some time to move your body is a great self-care practice to boost your energy. Exercise is also proven to reduce anxiety and depression. Just keep in mind to not force yourself and find ways to make it more enjoyable. You could even have a #fambam doing dance exercises, or have a Zoom fitness conference with your friends and colleagues.
5. Engage in a new hobby and other creative activities.
Picking up a new hobby—whether it’s reading, drawing, singing, dancing, calligraphy, gardening, baking, cooking, or a combination of those things—is a good way to help lessen stress and feel good about yourself. Also, don’t be pressured to come up with something tangible or beautiful to assure yourself that you’ve done it well. Just doing it for pure fun and to pass time is already a reward on its own.
6. Write your feelings and experiences in a journal.
Keeping a journal isn’t only for students and younger kids. It’s a great avenue for anyone to boost creativity, record memories, and help focus on the positive aspects of life. We are dealing with uncertain times now and who knows when this pandemic is going to end? It’s easier for anyone’s thoughts to swim in the negative side. But we can always take time to pause or slow down, be mindful of the present, and be grateful for moments and experiences that we often take for granted. Having our kids, partner, loved ones, and even pets healthy and safe is enough for us to be thankful, so write them down each day to help keep anxiety at bay.
7. Be kind to yourself, always.
The best thing you have to remember is: you are not alone. There’s a lot of things we can’t control and no one has it all figured out. Thus, being too hard on yourself is giving yourself an injustice. Everything we’re feeling—from fear, to anxiety, and restlessness—is understandable. This is why experts recommend paying attention to your feelings and practicing self-compassion. Remember to be kind to yourself and to others, always. #