Four simple ways to recharge during the pandemic
February 25, 2021 | General
The last year has been tough for all of us. COVID-19 has changed our way of life and left many feeling anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed. While 2021 is showing signs of promise, we’re still most likely a ways away from “life as we knew it.”
Social distancing guidelines are one of the pandemic’s most important precautions to keep ourselves and each other safe, but they can also affect our mental and physical health. Checking in with yourself through “self-care” is an excellent way to care for your own wellbeing.
Here are four easy steps you can use to practice self-care during the pandemic:
1. Take care of your body
- Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet
- Exercise daily (click here for more tips on exercising from home)
- Drink plenty of water
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night
2. Practice mindfulness and being present
- Set and maintain a daily routine
- Declutter an area of your home
- Practice deep-breathing from your diaphragm
- Meditate and stretch
3. Keep your mind active
- Read a new book or listen to a new podcast
- Practice drawing or coloring, or buy some new puzzles
- Write a daily journal or try creative writing
- Learn a new language
4. Connect with friends or family
- Arrange FaceTime/Zoom calls
- Send a letter or a postcard
- Start a group email thread or text message chain with friends/relatives
- Reconnect with old friends
As you start working these tips into your life, remember to practice self-compassion. Take your time, figure out what works for you, and don’t be too hard on yourself! Remember, we’re all in this together.
