A pandemic, so the time of self-isolation and trying to stay healthy, is a challenge that we haven't faced all at once before. It was an unexpected chain of events that resulted in the world taking a break for a couple of months now, and there is no date when it will go back to normal. Adjusting to the new everyday life takes time and can be quite stressful. We are spending a lot of time in tiny spaces, and not being able to go out can damage both your mind as well as the body. Some people lost their jobs, others lost their health, and most of us are close to losing our minds, which is why pandemic is a time when we need to take extensive care of ourselves. You have to remain healthy and sane to be able to move forward. Let's talk about how to take care of your mind and body during a pandemic.
Improve your Morning Routine
Getting out of bed without a clear purpose for the day can be a tough job. It is so easy to give up on yourself and forget about taking care of yourself when you don't have many responsibilities at the moment. You need to get out of that mindset, and the easiest way to do so is by setting up a pandemic morning routine. Get out of your bed and rush into the bathroom. Use the additional time you have to take better care of your skin and hair. You can even experiment with making some of the beauty products by yourself. There are a lot of different DIY recipes online, beard balm recipe, for example. Allow yourself to be creative. After a full skincare routine, make sure not to go back to a comfy robe and put on some regular clothes instead, no legging, no sweats, go for jeans and a T-shirt. You will immediately notice the difference between pajamas mood and clean and ready for the day attitude.
Stay Active
Physical activity is the key to happiness, and it is not just a slogan for a gym campaign; it's science. Research shows that when you workout and engage in different activities throughout your days, then you are healthier, you live longer and your body produces dopamine as well as endorphins that are considered the happiness hormones. Living a highly sedentary lifestyle, even if only for a couple of months, can do a lot of damage to your well-being. Invest your time in a daily walk habit, try to make at least 5000 steps a day, and you will feel so much better. You can also try doing a little bit of indoor exercising if you wish. Any type of activity is welcomed.
Filter news and Social Media
Pandemic is not the best time to get bombarded with a never-ending stream of news. Online news outlets and social media coverage of what is happening around the world will probably make you feel overwhelmed at some point. Obviously, you should monitor the situation for your safety, but try to filter the news and keep it to the minimum.
Treat your food as a Fuel
Making sure your body is nourished is another thing that you should take care of. With a less active lifestyle and the worry, it is easy to fall into bad habits, binge on junk food, and cut corners with fast food. You should make an effort to stop that from happening. Looks are, of course, a part of it, but you need to focus on the bigger picture here. Too much fat and processed food is a straight path to health issues, and a pandemic is a time when you should avoid any kind of health issue at all costs.
Make sleep a Priority
Getting enough sleep is an excellent way to keep your body healthy and your mind in the right place. Humans, especially working people, are a sleep-deprived society. The importance of relaxation and getting enough rest is something you need to understand if you ever want to feel alive. A pandemic, as strange as it sounds, is an excellent time to work on your sleeping pattern and get your body and mind fully functioning again. Get those eight precious hours of sleep a day in, and you will see the positive effects in no time.
Ease stress by Sharing
The number one reason for feeling stressed in the 21st century is loneliness. Being alone for a longer period of time is also inevitable during the ongoing pandemic. This is why it is so important to take the time and effort to find ways to connect socially. Sharing your thoughts and emotions with others is a need for everyone, and discovering that community or a single person to talk to is a necessity during the time of the pandemic.
Pandemic is a time when you need to focus on your well-being first in order to keep you and your loved ones as well as other people counting on you safe. Taking care of yourself is actually a process of providing security for your household and making sure you are ready to move on to the next chapter of this crazy thing we call life.
