Self-Care During Quarantine
By: Alyssa Garcia
The United States has almost hit a year since the coronavirus pandemic began. At this point many of us have gone back to work and continued our schooling online.
Instead of choosing to beat this pandemic the U.S. has chosen to cope with it. Some of us are still learning how to cope with it, which is understandable. We are experiencing stressful times and our mental health is being affected.
Everyone handles their stress and takes care of their mental health differently, but I have put a list together of 5 of my favorite self-care activities that help me cope during the pandemic.
5 Self-Care Activities (Recommended by me).
1.Go for a run or walk.
The best way I like to clear my mind is going for a long run to clear my head. I like to use my negative thoughts and energy into a run because it makes me push myself and I feel relieved after. Of course not everyone enjoys heavy cardio, but a walk can effectively help clear your mind.
2. Clean your personal space.
You can’t have a clear head with a messy room. Now, I’m not saying I have a clean and organized room, but when I do I feel more relieved. Too much clutter can make you feel enclosed or anxious, so I’d suggest cleaning your mess. Cleaning can even be therapeutic sometimes.
3. Shower steamers.
Please, let’s stop the bath bomb trend! As a women bath bombs and baths in general are big no for me. They can cause infections like UTI’s and yeast infections, which are never fun. Instead I recommend using a shower steamer, which is basically like a bath bomb but for the shower. You just put it on your shower floor and as it gets wet it releases whatever scent you chose. Toby’s Candles in Old Town San Diego sells the best shower steamers. They’re made with essential oils that are super relaxing. Lavender and eucalyptus are my favorite because lavender is common to aid sleeping and eucalyptus is common for stress relief.
4. Journaling
Writing down your thoughts is a good way to get your feelings out there without the fear of being judged because only you can see them. It is relaxing and gives you time to reflect. You can keep it simple or get as creative as you want with it. Instagramer Brianna Collins has a creative way of journaling that can turn basic journaling into an art project. So if you are into crafting I suggest getting creative with it!
5. Treat yourself.
During times like these you deserve to reward yourself. So go ahead and order that cute sweater you’ve been wanting. Or Postmates yourself some frozen yogurt or a slice of cake from your favorite bakery. Now is a time to recognize that we are all going through a lot so we deserve to treat ourselves as a pick me up.
