Given that we are currently in a pandemic, it’s safe to say that the world is pretty crazy place right now. Even though we have been in lockdown for over three months, it’s completely understandable if you’re still feeling overwhelmed and anxious about the future to come. So much about society is changing and many of us have questions that only time will reveal the answer to. If you are feeling uncertain about life beyond COVID, you are not alone. I, for one, have most certainly felt uneasy, particularly as I watched the death rate increase daily. However, after soon realising the importance of self-care and implementing more self-care practices into my routine, I began to feel more at peace.
Below are just a few of the self-care practices I have been implementing into my daily routine, that I would recommend you implement too:
- Journaling
Journaling is something I have always been on and off with, but I decided that as of February this year I would be more consistent. Journaling has really helped me process my emotions and check in with myself. I use my journal to express how I'm feeling, write down my goals, write down affirmations and writing down prayers. Journaling can either be written, typed, filmed or recorded. Whichever way you feel you can express yourself best, do that. Here are some journaling prompts to get you started:
- How do I feel at the moment? Why do I feel this way?
- What three things am I thankful for today?
- What am I proud of myself for doing today? How can I make tomorrow better?
- What do I do when I feel stressed? How do I cope with anxiety?
- Meditating
Meditation is another great practice I have implemented to to help deal with anxiety. The aim of meditation is to calm down the mind and become more present. To put it simply, meditation involves relaxation, focus, and awareness. From personal experience, meditation has really helped me become less reactionary and more rational. Here are some other benefits of meditation:
- Enhances self-awareness
- Lengthens attention span
- Controls anxiety
- Enhances overall health and wellbeing
3. Drinking 2L of water per day
Ensuring that you’re drinking enough water each day is really important. Back in October, I made the decision to start tracking how much water I drink each day and ensure I drink between 2-2.5L. After a few days, I immediately noticed how much more energy I had, how much less bloated I was, how much more my skin glowed and how I paid much more attention in my lessons. Here's an article explaining the benefits of drinking water in more depth: https:// www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290814
- Taking daily walks
Taking walks is not only a form of exercise, but also a great way to reconnect with yourself and the world around you. Whether you’re listening to your favourite song/podcast or walking in silence, walking for at least 20 minutes a day can boost your energy and improve your mood.
- Setting firm social media boundaries
During lockdown, I have tried my best to be mindful of how much media I am consuming. If, like me, your screen time has shot up in the recent weeks, you're not the only one. Although this may pose a challenge right now, scheduling some time away from social media is incredibly crucial. Social media can be very overwhelming at times and it can become hard to define a reality of your own when we are subconsciously told to conform to a virtual one.
Thank you for reaching the end of the blog post. I hope you have learned something new and taken some of the self-care tips away with you!
By Sophie Arinde