Self care – many of us view self care as taking a vacation, going to the spa, or hanging out with friends.
Unfortunately, none of those things are really options right now due to COVID.
Most of the United States is still practicing social distancing or are quarantined at home.
For most of us, there really isn’t anywhere to go. It’s a stressful time in general, plus there are many ways we practice self care that may not be possible until COVID is over.
Fortunately, you can still practice self care while at home.
Here are 10 affordable ways to practice self care during COVID.
1) Exercise
I know, I know. No one wants to consider exercise as self care, but it truly is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Exercising releases endorphins, literally making you happier and more relaxed.
2) Sleep Well
COVID is a stressful time, and stress drastically affects your sleep. You may find yourself sleeping less, or tossing and turning throughout the night.
Now is an amazing time to focus on sleep hygiene. To enhance your sleep, try these tips.
3) Garden
Gardening or working in the lawn is a great way to practice self care for many reasons. For one, it gets you outside and into nature. Secondly, you can get a decent workout while gardening. Lastly, it gives you a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
And you don’t have to have an enormous yard to take advantage of gardening. Even if you live in an apartment, you can still buy a few basic gardening supplies and head outside. Purchase some indoor plants, pots, a trowel, soil, and any other supplies you need to pot indoor plants.
4) Call a Friend
What better way to practice self care than to call an uplifting friend? Whether it’s a new friend or an old one, engaging in a conversation with a friend is a great way to lift your spirits.
5) Organize Your Home
If you’re like me, clutter stresses you out. I’m always amazed at how much better I feel when I spend a few minutes picking up things around the house.
And fortunately, organizing your home is the perfect thing to do while you are quarantined. Start with one room at a time. Clean out drawers and closets and group like items together. I like to clean out old jars or plastic take-out containers to use as free organizers. You don’t have to spend a fortune in order to have an organized home!
6) Read
Reading is one of those things I enjoy doing, but I don’t often make time for it.
During COVID, I fell back in love with reading. In my opinion, there is nothing more indulgent than spending time simply sitting and enjoying a good book.
No matter what you enjoy reading, simply make time for it. Those quiet moments are one of my favorite times of self care.
7) Pick Up a New Hobby
If you find yourself frustrated and unable to enjoy your regular favorite hobbies, then why not try something new?
There are plenty of hobbies you can try while stuck at home. Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Cooking or baking
- Sewing
- Woodworking
- Homebrewing
- Yoga
- Gardening
- Gaming
- Crafting
- Crossword Puzzles
- And so many more – here are 20 ideas for hobbies
What about writing? Before you dive into blogging, read 7 Years of Blogging as a Side Hustle – Should You Start a Blog?
8) Get Your Finances in Order
Who knew organizing your finances could be a massive act of self care?
The truth is, caring for your money is caring for yourself. Living from paycheck to paycheck or in debt is super stressful. How much better would you feel if you felt like you had a hold on your finances?
Whether you are paying off student loans, starting to save for an emergency fund, or are interested in learning about investing, take this time to learn and focus on your finances.
9) Take a Social Media Break
Social media is a wonderful thing, but it can also become a source of stress when there is a lot going on around the world.
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with social media, allow yourself to take a break. It’s an incredible act of self care, and it’s free!
10) Create a Schedule
Sure, this might not seem like an obvious way to care for yourself, but creating a schedule can do wonders for your mental state. With COVID, your regular routine was likely thrown out the window. You may just now be figuring out the rhythm of your new routine.
Now that you have a general idea of your new routine, schedule it. Write down when you’ll work, when you need to have family time, when you plan to work out, and any other events that come up.
Sticking to a schedule goes a long way in reducing stress. When everything is written down, you no longer have to keep track of every appointment or task in your head. It creates a more organized life, and you’ll find your stress levels subsiding. Best of all? It’s a totally free way to take care of yourself!
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Absolutely agree with entire post, number 6 and 7 plus garden helped and still helping me a lot!!!