As we all sit at home due to the pandemic, it’s hard not to dwell on the stress of the new normal. From worrying about if you’ll get your next paycheck, your own health, and when society will get back to normal, there are plenty of things waiting to add more stress to your life.
During these times, it’s especially important to take care of ourselves. While it’s hard to avoid the stress and most things are out of your control right now, practicing self-care can help ease some stress and let your mind focus on the things that matter. There are plenty of ways to take advantage of self-care at home that don’t require going out into the world — keep reading to see what they are!
One great way to alleviate stress is to work out. You don’t need equipment to get in a good at-home workout. There are plenty of resources to inspire your workout with limited equipment. From YouTube videos to Instagram videos to follow along or get inspired from, there are endless possibilities of working out at home. Even going for a run or walk around your neighborhood or nearby park is great exercise, and it’s better than doing nothing.
Working out helps alleviate stress, clear your mind, and get some endorphins running throughout your body to put you in a good mood. Plus, it keeps you healthy, which is especially needed for those of us who eat all day at home. Even the smallest amount of exercise can be helpful. A 10-minute walk is better than doing nothing, and the more you incorporate working out into your day, the more benefits you’ll see over time.
There are also ways to do self-care with some products. Whether you already have some self-care items or not, it never hurts to do a little online shopping. You can check out some of the most popular self-care items at plenty of online stores that are still shipping. Other retailers, such as Target, even offer drive-by pickup so you don’t have to ever exit your car. Just shop on the app to get yourself a new face mask, nail care kit, or self-massager to help with your stress.
Other ways to take care of yourself during this time include reading, cooking, organizing, creating art, and more. All of these activities help with your mental health, which is taking care of yourself. While there’s nothing wrong with sitting on the couch and watching tv for a few hours, try to take a few breaks to do other things as well. Eventually, this will end, and life will go back to normal. But until then, let’s focus on taking care of ourselves first.