We've never spent as much time at home as we have in the past few months.But even if we've taken great care of making our house, apartment or bedroom a cozy place, it can still be quite hard for us to destress and unwind due to the current circ*mstances (global pandemic, anyone?) and winter doesn’t make it any easier.
If you feel like you need to take care of your physical and mental health, we’re here to provide you with some simple tips for a self-care routine you can easily reproduce at home.
1. Make the bed
While that may sound a little childish, making our bed is a good way to make sure we start the day on the right foot. If you feel like it, you can also change or wash your sheets, because what’s better than to go to bed at night in fresh-smelling bedding?
2. Listen to happy songs
Music has a strong impact on our moods and listening to some cheery tunes can help set the mood for the day. If you feel like dancing and singing, don’t hold up!
3. Move
Whether you go for a walk, enjoy an online yoga session or exercise in your living room, anything goes, as long as it involves some movement.
4. Take a bubble bath
Go ahead: you earned it. Draw yourself a bath, pour some bubble bath in it, and do nothing but relax and breathe. No bathtub? No problem! Light some candles and have a candlelit shower. Why not? Lather up that luxurious shower gel and enjoy its wonderful smell.
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5. Pamper yourself
Take the time to moisturize from head to toe with your favorite body lotion, then, put on some comfy clothes you like.
6. Hydrate
Drinking plenty of water is essential in order to remain healthy. Find what works for you: maybe it’s leaving a glass of water in every room and to take a sip every time you walk past one of them, or maybe it’s carrying that beautiful reusable water bottle everywhere with you. You can also add some freshly sliced fruits if you don’t particularly enjoy drinking water by itself.
7. Write in a gratitude journal
Focus on the positive things in your life, even the smallest ones. Be grateful for a beautiful sunrise, or for the food on your plate, for your family or for your cat. Everything counts!
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8. Clean your home
We know cleaning doesn’t necessarily sound like fun but living in a clean environment can be really soothing. It is proven that a messy environment can keep us from focusing or relaxing, so crank up the volume of your favorite playlist and get to work! If you need to, you can decide on a small reward when your tasks are over: a square of chocolate or an episode of your favorite show, perhaps?
9. Call someone you love
And no: it doesn’t have to be a video-call, because we know you must be tired of these by now. Catch up with a family member or a friend, have a laugh and lose track of time.
10. Unplug and read a book
When was the last time you turned your phone off? Put it aside for an hour or two and enjoy the feeling of immersing yourself in a good book.
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11. Meditate
While your phone is off or on airplane mode, try meditating! You don’t have to know how to sit in lotus position or anything: sit however and wherever you are the comfiest, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. Inhale for 4 seconds, retain your breath for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds and retain for another 4 seconds. This simple technique, called “box breath”, can be done anywhere at any time!
12 . Write a list of things you like… about yourself!
It’s called self-care, right? So go on: grab a pen and some paper and list every single little thing you like about yourself. Is it your laugh? Your empathy towards others? Your homemade cooking? Try to find at least ten things to jolt down.
13. Take a nap
Listen to your body, and if you’re feeling tired, take a nap (in your freshly washed sheets). It can be 20 minutes, it can be 2 hours, we’re not judging!
14. Listen to a podcast
Pick a subject you like and listen to a podcast show about it. Here’s the catch, though: you need to focus solely on listening, don’t try to multitask!
15. Learn a new skill
Have you always dreamed of speaking another language or learning how to draw? Lucky you! We live in an era where you can learn almost anything for free, thanks to apps and online courses!
16. Clean up your phone
Get rid of every app you’re not using, old pictures, contacts you don’t need. Be the Marie Kondo of the digital world and unclutter! And while you’re at it: organize your computer’s desktop as well!
Credit: Instagram / @aimeebourque
17. Eat fruits and veggies
Make yourself a smoothie with your favorite fruits, a soup or salad with tasteful veggies and enjoy! Your body will thank you for eating healthy, but don’t forget to wash your produce first, to make sure they’re free of pesticides!
18. Watch a movie with your friends (virtually)
Many streaming platforms now offer the option to watch a movie while being able to chat or talk with your friends simultaneously. Make yourself some popcorn, pick a comedy, and have fun with your loved ones while remaining physically distanced.
It is so important to take care of our mental, physical and emotional health, especially during these trying times. Whether you choose to apply a few of these tips every day or weekly on one dedicated self-care day, we think they can be the start of some positive lifestyle changes. If you need a reminder to take care of yourself, schedule some me-time in your agenda and don’t forget that there is nothing selfish about that, because we can’t take care of anyone else if we’re exhausted.
We know lockdown makes it hard to keep our spirits uplifted and we really wish this list of simple things to add to your self-care routine will help you. However, if you feel like you need some professional advice, we recommend looking up psychological help hotlines in your city online.
