10 Ways to Care for Our Bodies and Living Space During a Quarantine
Part 3 of a 5-Part Series: Physical and Environmental Self-Care
This is the third post in a five-part series about self-care during a global health crisis. If you haven’t read the first two blogs about emotional and social self-care, check them out today. The next post will cover intellectual, cultural, and spiritual self-care. Lastly, the final post will cover occupational self-care, which is so crucial during a time when the line between work and home is so blurred it’s almost non-existent.
We all know the importance of exercise for our physical and mental well-being. But, there are many other aspects of physical self-care that while lesser acknowledged, are no less important.
Physical Self-Care.
Move. Aim for something small, even 10 minutes makes a difference. You can do Yoga poses, Tai Chi, stretching, or jumping jacks. Turn up the music and have a dance party, or lunge around the house. There are also many online exercise videos to get you moving as well. We know that physical movement is one of the main ways to cope with stress and other difficult emotions. So, get moving in a way you enjoy and release those endorphins for a quick mood boost!
Eat. Aim for a balanced diet, while also giving yourself grace for any dietary changes as access to food has dramatically changed during this time. You can try a new recipe that’s been sitting on your shelf for years, or mindfully eat some comfort food.
Sleep. You may have noticed that you’re having a more difficulty sleeping amid the barrage of Coronavirus updates. Try to keep up your regular sleep routine to help you stay rested. Other tried and true sleep tips include keeping devices out of your bedroom, going to bed around the same time each evening, and meditating before bed or falling asleep while you meditate.
Dress. Let’s not go overboard, you are a parent at home with kids, but it can help foster a feeling of normalcy and productivity if you get dressed like you would on your average day for working inside or outside the home. However, spending more time at home can cause feelings of isolation and depression, and continuing with our activities of daily living supports mental wellness. Try picking a realistic number of days per week that you will get dressed to work from home.
Six years ago, author and tidying expert, Marie Kondo, struck a chord globally with her mission to spark joy through the art of decluttering and organizing living spaces. The science backs her up, as decluttering has been shown to increase energy, reduce anxiety, and improve relationships. Here are some ways that might help you curate an inviting and pleasant space at home, as we are all spending more time at home.
Environmental Self-Care.
Organize by Color. Try arranging your books or other items (even your phone apps) by color so it looks more pleasing to the eye. If you want more ideas, check out @thehomeedit or other organizing accounts or blogs.
Flower Arrangements. If you have a garden, put together an arrangement of flowers.
Decorate. Hang up a picture or piece of art that has been sitting in your closet for the past six months. Display some of your children’s artistic quarantine creations!
Declutter. Spark joy by reading Marie Kondo’s books or watching her Netflix show. Pick a small and manageable area that you haven’t tackled yet, and try some of her tidying techniques.
Aromatherapy. Light a lovely smelling candle or try a diffuser. You can even make your own room spray. This DIY project was a big hit with the elementary educators I support as a Wellness Coordinator.
Enjoy Your Home. If you tend to manage worry and anxiety by over cleaning, you can focus on savoring some of your favorite spots in your home by cozying up with a good book, hot drink, and soft blanket.
It’s unrealistic to be putting the same amount of effort into all categories of self-care. Pick a couple that resonate with you, and focus on those for the time being. What is most important to you know is likely different due to our unprecedented circumstances, and that’s okay. I know that I much prefer to put my energy into physical self-care versus environmental—at least the part of environmental self-care that includes decluttering!
Come back soon for the next blog post on intellectual, cultural, and spiritual self-care. May you live with ease, may you be healthy, may you be free from suffering.
Resources for Kids
Resources for Adults
Organization
The Life Changing Art of Tidying Up, Spark Joy, and Joy at Work by Marie Kondo
Tidying Up With Marie Kondo Netflix Series
Aroma Therapy
Whimsey + Wellness has lovely bottles for your essential oil creations
