20 Self-Care Ideas You Can Do at Home

It’s been a long month already and it’s only the second week of April! While we’ve been stuck at home, I’ve been thinking of all the little things I can do to take care of myself and I thought I’d share some with you. Keeping tabs on your mental health and how you feel inside and out is really important right now. So here are some things you can do to take care of yourself right now. And no, none of them involve working out!

1. Deep breathing- Sit down on your yoga mat and just breathe. Listen to calming music. Pray. Whatever works for you!
2. Drink some fruit juice- Squeeze your own or pour it from the bottle, a little Vitamin C boosts your immunity and just tastes good!
3. Write in your journal- Share thoughts, concerns, feelings. Get it out on paper.
4. Take a hot shower- Take your time and exfoliate your skin!
5. Watch a movie- We’ve all been doing that a lot lately, but choose a movie YOU really want to watch and enjoy it
6. Make a comfort meal- Everyone has a go-to comfort meal. Mine is pizza!
7. Call someone you love- I call my mom every day, but call whoever gives you the most hope and peace!
8. Make your bed- Some people love to have a made bed, others don’t care. Take some time to change the sheets and fluff the pillows!
9. Sit in the sun- Even if its cold, fresh air and sunshine are wonderful for your mind. Spend some time outside in your yard or on your patio.
10. Make a list- Write down your hopes and dreams or maybe all the restaurants you want to go to when the pandemic is over!
11.  Turn off the phone- Our phones can be a huge mental health drain. Get some screen-free time and turn yours off!
12.  Create a vision board- Tear through old magazines and cut out things you see that inspire you!
13.  Spend time with your pet- Cuddle up to your fur baby to help release endorphins (the feel good brain chemical!)
14.  Dress up- When you’re stuck at home, it’s easy to want to wear sweatpants all day. Put on a favorite outfit and give yourself a mental boost!
15.  Perform a random act of kindness- Doing nice things for other people can lift you up as well! 
16.  Declutter- Go through your home and get rid of things you simply don’t need. Donate items to a local shelter or thrift store!
17.  Try a new craft- Learn how to pour candles, paint an old piece of furniture, or even make soap! 
18.  Paint your nails- Find a lively color that makes you happy!
19.  Rewatch a tv series- We all have one that makes us laugh and feel good. Watch your favorite tv series again!
20.  Make a mental health appointment- Speaking with a professional who can help you care for your mental health can be awesome. If the cost is hindering you, consider looking into psychology programs at universities where graduate students need to get practice (under instructor supervision of course). 

Self-care means different things to everyone, but checking in with your mind, body, and spirit is the heart of your well-being. Take care of yourself and others!

What to Expect for Mental Health in April

Hey everyone! March was certainly a month no one could have predicted and it’s left all of us reeling wondering what’s to come in April. Unfortunately, I don’t have the answers to that but, I can tell you what you might expect for your mental health! Hint: it’ll be ups and downs as usual. The spring and changes in daylight apparently do a number on our bodies and minds.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or mental health professional. I’m sharing what I’ve researched and my own experiences with you! Always do your own research and speak with a mental health expert!

20 Activities To Do During Self-Quarantine

Hey everyone, how are you holding up? Since last Saturday, I’ve pretty much spent every single night in bed watching tv and coloring a cat-themed coloring book (don’t judge, it’s awesome). But I’m finally at my wit’s end with my sedentary lifestyle. I NEED something to do, which inspired this post.

Next to the virus itself, mental health is my biggest concern right now. Not just for myself though, but for everyone! I like a relaxing weekend spent at home just as much as anyone else does, but it is not human nature to keep ourselves isolated from others for weeks on end. Isolation, or “social distancing” as we’re calling it, usually leads straight to depression. If you already suffer from poor mental health like I do, you’re going to need to find things to do to keep your body and mind active.

20 Things to do While You’re Stuck at Home

1. Organize your closet! Donate things you don’t wear and create a closet system that works
2. Learn to make candles! It’s easier than you think and it’s very relaxing (I wrote a blog on this!)
3. Try a new fitness app! Tone It Up is offering free access right now to their platform
4. Start composting! Since we’re all cooking at home a bit more, it’s a great time to start composting your food waste.
5. Plant an herb garden! I ordered some self-watering herb pots on Amazon the other day (link here!) and planted some cilantro and basil. It’s growing in my kitchen on the window sill!
6. Clean out the linen closet! They get so messy and chances are you probably have some towels in there they have seen better days. Reorganize everything and donate old towels and blankets to animal shelters.
7. Start spring cleaning! Just get it done with so you can feel accomplished and be ready for the warm days ahead.
8. Go for a walk around the neighborhood! It’s basic, but getting outside is going to be pretty important to your mental health.
9. Try a new recipe! I bought ingredients a few weeks ago to make cake pops so that’s going to be new recipe to try.
10. Get really good at manicures! I usually do my nails super fast and they look like it. Take your time and actually give yourself a good manicure.
11. Rewatch your favorite sitcom! Seinfeld, Friends, The Office etc. Pop some popcorn!
12. Clean out your car! Let’s be honest- most of us leave straw wrappers and old napkins in the cup holders. Go clean it out and maybe even vacuum if you’re feeling crazy.
13. Learn Excel! Or another technical skill that can make you more valuable to employers.
14. Do some yard work! Trim back the bushes, weed out flower beds, and lay some fresh mulch. Yard work is something most of us put off but its a good workout and your lawn (and neighbors) will thank you!
15. Start your ancestry research! This is a super time consuming and interesting hobby that takes a lot of work but offers a big return. Now’s a great time to get started on your research!
16. Learn calligraphy! You can find beginners calligraphy kits online and there are quite a few YouTube videos on how to get started!
17. Write a letter to an older family member! Snail mail isn’t something millennials and Gen Zers are used to but older family members still love it, and frankly, you might too.
18. Plan your next trip! Quarantine won’t last forever. Start planning where you might like to go and what you would want to do.
19. Reorganize your kitchen cabinets! The spice cabinets, tupperware drawers, and junk drawer could probably use your attention.
20. Eat dinner outside! My favorite restaurants always have outdoor seating. Take your dinner outside to your patio or even throw down a blanket in the grass. String up some twinkle lights and turn on some Louis Armstrong for a date night vibe!

 

Maintaining Mental Health in Times of Crisis

You guys this post could not come at a better time! It feels as though overnight the world plunged into a strange, unfamiliar darkness. But in the darkness, I feel like there’s always a little light flickering somewhere, and that’s what I want to talk about today! Maintaining our mental health during times of crisis is so important not only for ourselves, but also for the people around us.

Everyone Stop and Breathe

I feel like almost no one has stopped to think about the COVID-19 situation in a healthy way. Most people in my community ran to the grocery store and bought groceries they’d never normally buy (are you really going to eat that frozen broccoli, buddy?) Instead of coming up with a decent plan for themselves and their families, people panicked and bought unnecessary amounts of toilet paper, hand soap, and even baby formula and diapers leaving none for their neighbors.

Everyone needs to stop and take some time to evaluate their situation and determine what they need to do next. If you’ve ever seen a horror film, you’ll know panicking does nothing but make the situation worse. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and go from there.

Take Stock of Your Feelings

I know, I sound hokey saying this but for me, it really helped! Write down what you are feeling. It can be just single words or full paragraphs. Determining the emotions that are directing your actions can help you understand your outlook.

Personally, I feel very worried that I’m out of my normal routine and I feel sad that many of my social events were cancelled because I was looking forward to them. You might feel angry, scared, confused, or a hundred other emotions. However you feel, write it down, maybe share with someone else so you don’t feel alone in your feelings.

Do Something You Would Normally Do

I find that I can improve my anxiety and depression symptoms when I do things that I normally would. I like to clean my house on Saturdays and drink my normal 5 cups of coffee (yes, I know that’s too much coffee!) For you, that might be going outside to work in your yard, doing a workout from the comfort of your home, or maybe even making some homemade mimosas for a fun brunch at home! Whatever it is, add some normalcy to your new routine.

Look for the Heroes

I once heard someone say during times of crisis to look for the heroes in the story, they’re always there! I LOVE that. I see them on my Facebook newsfeed offering up the extra toilet paper they bought for free. I’ve seen people trying to organize groups of people to make sure food insecure kids have something to eat during the extended spring break. There’s also a viral video from Italy of people playing instruments on their balconies in an apartment complex. So start looking for the heroes and the positive news stories, they’re easier to spot than you think.

Help Someone Else

Sometimes taking the focus off of ourselves is the best way to improve our mental health. Find someone in your network that you can help during this time. If you don’t feel safe leaving your home, reach out to someone that might be having a hard time emotionally, mentally, or even physically. Right now, the elderly are most at risk. Check in with someone older who might not have been able to get to the grocery store and see how you may be able to help them out. Check in with the single mom or dad who’s not sure what they’ll do with their kids home for two weeks. Use a challenging time like this to find an opportunity.

In a few weeks, hopefully this will all be over and we can go back to a cautious normal. For now, adhere to the CDC’s guidelines to keep yourself healthy and do your best to find the light in the darkness!