10 Self Care Ideas During A Lockdown & Self-Isolation

Just a couple of weeks ago, we were all going about our daily life as normal, when Coronavirus (COVID19) began to spread across Europe. Little did we know, borders would close, businesses told to shut and employees work from home where possible. The UK is currently on lockdown which means we can only leave our house to go to work, shop for essentials or to exercise.

This has hit everyone hard, even if not affected by the virus itself. Lots of people are out of work, holidays have been cancelled, weddings postponed. Things that people were really looking forward to this year, have been put on hold indefinitely. At this point in time, we can only use other countries progress as a guess to when this situation will start to calm down.

With huge amounts of stress and uncertainty, it’s so easy to fall into a negative mindset feeling overwhelmed. Add on top of that, the self-isolation and you can see how this is going to snowball. I have picked out 10 Self Care Ideas During A Lockdown & Self-Isolation, ones that I believe have a big impact and a bit different from the ‘obvious choices’.

10 Self Care Ideas During A Lockdown & Self-Isolation

Stop. Take a break

Whether you are working from home or just trying to keep busy. Sometimes we just need to step away from what we are doing and have a break. At the moment there is a constant flow of information on social media, the news and constantly consuming it becomes exhausting.

Understand your feelings

It’s completely normal to feel sad or anxious in this situation and it can easily spill into other areas of your life. Take some time to analyse what the core issue is, you will most likely find that one problem is causing you to act differently in situations to how you normally would.

Stay connected with people

Talking to people can really help you get out your feelings and stress. When we bottle things up it makes everything worse. Being that everyone is affected by this pandemic we can all understand what we are going through. So pick up the phone or even better, face time your family and friends. Just because you can’t see people in person doesn’t mean you have to stop seeing them completely.

Keep moving

Currently, in the UK, we are allowed outside for exercise, once a day. Even if it’s just a walk, make sure you utilise that time. I also love the resources available on Youtube and Pinterest which have lots of different workouts that you can do at home, with little to no equipment. Exercise helps improve your mood and clear your mind of negativity.

Digital detox

As mentioned earlier, the constant flow of ‘breaking news’ and stories can be tiring. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, having a digital detox helps to quieten all the noise. One thing to consider when reading stories and articles online is the reliability of the source of information. Don’t be panicked by something that may not even be true.

Consume purposeful content

You don’t have to do a full digital detox if that’s not for you, but you could have a social media clear out. Go through your most used platforms and remove anyone that inflicts negative feelings onto you. Replace them with content creators that make you feel positive and inspired.

Read self help books & articles

One of my favourite things to do when I feel overwhelmed is read. It makes you realise that the things you are feeling are not uncommon and that things will get better. I also find that it can open my mind and allow me to see something in a different way.

Take care of you

Just because your normal routine has changed does not been you need to stop doing the little things that bring you joy. If you like doing your makeup, continue to do so! One thing I recommend for everyone is having a full pamper evening once or twice a week. Run a bath, put on a podcast and just relax and take care of you.

Escapism

Now that we are all at home, it’s hard to differentiate time for work and rest/play. I am a big believer in maintaining a good balance between work and play. Yes, this time is a great opportunity to work on things you didn’t have time for, however, you will burn out if you don’t have time to switch off. Whatever you enjoy doing, gaming or TV etc. Allow yourself time to do these things and distance from everything that’s happening right now.

Write a list of what you want to do after the pandemic

Being on lockdown has made me realise all the things I take for granted. Also, all the things that I want to do, but never ‘get around to’. Make a list of all the things you would like to do when things get back to normal. This will also act as some motivation for you to do the right thing and stay at home until instructed otherwise.