We all know that 2020 hasn’t been easy on a global and individual level. Most of our normal activities have been replaced, and the pandemic has forced people to spend their days in isolation and in constant fear of COVID-19. However, many believe that 2020 is actually a great year for personal development and self-care. This article will explore the benefits and forms of self-care, and we’ll also discuss what self-care means during a pandemic. So keep reading to learn about the effects of the pandemic on self-care, and we’ll also give you some tips!
What Does Self-Care Mean?
Firstly, self-care is an essential concept in our lives. However, we often neglect it due to busy schedules and day-to-day issues. Still, without self-care, you could have a tough time helping others or staying mentally healthy. It is not related to selfishness, and you must know that everyone is entitled to take care of their personal needs. Self-care can enable you to take care of your health, and it can change your outlook for the better. In some cases, it’s easy to think that you’re heavily depressed, while all you need is some valuable self-care time.
There are numerous self-care routines that you could try, and most of them are fairly straightforward. For example, taking a relaxing bath, reading, or meditating can make you feel refreshed, energized, and it can also calm you down. Regardless of the activity, the goal is to look inward. Some routines will calm you down, but they may not feel so relaxing to other people. It all depends on the individual. Thus, you’ll need to think about the activities that have the best effect on you.
What’s more, the aim of self-care isn’t only to allow you to relax and forget about the world. It’s also about exploring your personality and taking the time to enjoy the simple and complex things in life. You can use it to learn about yourself and make improvements so that you can be a better person. By setting aside some time for self-care, you can also minimize various negative emotions. The same goes for stress, depression, unhappiness, and so on.
Moreover, self-care allows you to stay healthy and fit. You could use it to create effective physical health and exercise routines that will keep your serotonin and endorphin levels high and minimize negative feelings.
The Effects of the Pandemic
Studies show that over 50% of Americans believe that the preventive measures of COVID-19 have had a negative effect on their mental health. The reasons are fairly obvious. They include social distancing, spending lots of time alone at home, worrying about virus risks, etc. Other crucial threats to our mental health are uncertain jobs, parent/children care, and school/office closures.
Due to all these factors, our daily routine has been disrupted, and it feels like we’re on an emotional roller coaster. Life is simply not functioning as it used to. We have changed our way of communication with our friends and family, and we have a constant feeling that life will not go on.
However, the new coronavirus rules have also given us a lot of time to focus on ourselves. Since we spend the majority of our days inside, we can turn inwards. We can spend some time on contemplation and reflection, which are essential practices for self-care.
Rethinking What Self-Care Means
In a nutshell, the “new normal” has inspired us to create new routines and find activities that can improve our wellbeing. For example, if you get fulfillment from helping others and socializing, you’ve probably had to move your activities online and chat with your friends through video calls. If you’re more introverted, it’s likely that you’ve looked for fulfillment through your alone-time at home. In any case, the pandemic has reshaped and broadened our self-care habits.
Even though we’ve had to change our practices, the coronavirus has raised our awareness of self-care concepts. In fact, data shows that over 80% of U.S citizens aim to continue with their self-care methods when the pandemic finishes. So perhaps the best way to move forward is to rethink our healthy choices and our self-care. So think about your alone-time habits that made you feel good and try to continue them when the pandemic ends.
New Self-care Routine
If you haven’t been taking care of yourself during COVID-19, you could follow some of our tips below.
Firstly, start with the basics and try to have a healthy diet. If you’re allowed to exit your home, take regular walks to get some exercise. Also, you could try some home workouts, stretches, Yoga, or any other physical activity that stimulates you. This will keep your mind refreshed. It will also energize your body and boost your self-confidence.
The next step is to think about changing your home environment. If you work from home, make a separate workspace to draw the line between your business and your home life. Employees can think about prioritizing how they treat their work and home life. Then, think about setting other healthy boundaries for media/entertainment use or for your relationship with your partner. If you are coupled, you can try mutual self-care activities with your partner. That could include massages, relaxation techniques, open communication, and more.
Other tips include engaging in volunteer work, taking online courses, and spending time with your family through video calls. If those tips do not suit you, think about your hobbies and interests. If you’re fascinated with building model trains or learning a new skill or language, now is the best time to try that. Last but not least, you can practice self-care to expand your consciousness and learn to be mindful through meditation.
Being Mindful
Mindfulness and meditation are some of the most useful practices when it comes to self-care. Fortunately, as a result of the coronavirus, more and more people are starting to practice meditation and the idea of “living in the moment.” The great thing about meditation is that you don’t have to be an expert in order to practice it. It’s become widely accepted across the world, and you also don’t have to practice it for spiritual or religious reasons.
If you try meditation, you can lower your anxiety levels, but that’s not all. It can also allow you to process your feelings across the board. If you feel anxious, excited, happy, or down, meditation can enable you to hone in on those feelings and control them.
During the pandemic, meditation can allow you to look inward and prioritize your thoughts while eliminating clutter. It can give you a positive outlook even if your days appear to be uneventful and bleak!
Summary
In the end, self-care will cheer you up during this challenging time, and it will also give you a new perspective on life. So try some of our tips today!