5 Things That Step Up Your SelfCare Amid COVID-19
1. Do what you have to do to get proper rest.
It seems like the first few weeks of self-isolation was okay. Many of us spent our time catching up on our Netflix shows, and dozing off came easy. Months later, we may find ourselves waking in the middle of the night or struggling to fall asleep. Sleeping can feel like an impossible task during times of stress. So if you can’t sleep for 7-9 hours at night, schedule a time to rest and nap during the day. Eight hours is eight hours. They don’t have to be consecutive to give your body the rest it needs. Giving our bodies time to recover is crucial for healthy immune systems.
2. Stretch.
Ideally, exercising is a great way to keep healthy and take care of yourself, and this is a great time to start a regime if you don’t already have one. However, whether you’re making exercise videos or you are a couch potato, stretching is equally beneficial. Have you ever noticed when a dog or cat wakes from a long nap, they drop their chests down and stretch their whole bodies? Stretching spans species and doing it for just 10 minutes a day will step up your flexibility and self-care.
3. Set alarms to drink more water.
We all have heard the benefits of drinking water and know we feel better when we do, but why’s it so damn hard to drink the recommended amount of water (body weight, divided by 2= recommended ounces)? Flushing out toxins in our bodies is more critical than ever. Retraining ourselves with an alarm to drink every hour can ensure we get our daily intake. But if every hour feels like too much, push it out every two hours, just put on an alarm—game changer.
4. Connect with another human.
I saw a video of Tia Mowry crying during an interview because she hasn’t been able to see her family in person. It was heartbreaking because I know there are so many of us that share these same sentiments. Even more so for people who are isolated now and were feeling isolated before. Isn’t it strange there are definite pre-coronavirus and post-coronavirus states? Anyway, connecting with someone is self-care to the next level. It truly lets you know you are not alone, and we’re in this together. If you’re struggling to reach out to someone, Call GeboCall, we’re genuinely here to connect with you.
5. Check-in with yourself daily.
Checking in may look like writing a letter to yourself, or coloring in a coloring book, taking a long bath, or prayer. It will look different for all of us because we’re all so different. The point is, find something that makes you feel like you’re pampering yourself. This may be hard with so much on your mind, or your family around, online school, and dinner to contest with, but carve out a little time and do it. You can thank me later.
*bonus* Take time to apply lotion luxuriously, you may be missing out on physical touch.
Wishing you The Gift of self-care,
Tiffany Gonzalez
