3 Ways to Take Care of Yourself While Social Distancing

Even introverts who would normally relish an opportunity to spend a nice weekend in are finding that social distancing can be really tough. Self-isolation can be really isolating if we don’t take care of ourselves. While you won’t be able to book your hair appointment or make a fitness class, there are still plenty of things you can do while staying home and safe. Check out these tips for self-care while social distancing.

1. Try Journaling

Feelings are natural, and it’s important that we take time to work through all of our emotions. One way you can do that is by journaling. Putting pen to paper can be calming and give you a sense of peace. Center yourself by reserving 5 to 15 minutes a day to just sit and write.

2. Get Moving

Don’t underestimate the power of endorphins. It can be a short walk around the block if you’re allowed out or a bed exercise you find on Youtube. Get those feel-good hormones flowing and let a better mood wash in with them! Set a movement goal for yourself to meet each day and take care of your mental and physical well-being.

3. Treat Yourself!

Treat Yourself Moments happen even in isolation! Right now is arguably one of the most important times to be sweet to yourself. You can do an at-home spa night with a sheet mask and bubble bath or whip up a batch of your favorite dessert just because. Or maybe you want to go find a movie to curl up on the couch with. Anything!

Life is busy, and it goes fast. Sleep is the one time we have a break from it all. Studies show that sleeping more sharpens your brain, improves your mood, promotes heart health, and so much more. It’s important, so we have to make each hour we get count! I’m going to give you 3 things that will guarantee you a better, more restorative rest each night.

• Don’t Drink Caffeinated Beverages Late in the Day

Caffeine energizes our bodies, stimulating our nervous systems and making us buzz with energy. While this is great when we’re getting our start to the day, it makes it much harder for us to fall asleep and then rest well once we are asleep. Limit your caffeine intake 6 to 8 hours before you go to bed.

• Try to Go to Bed and Wake Up at the Same Time

Our bodies have circadian rhythms that function on a loop. If we stay consistent, we are much more likely to stay asleep longer and, therefore, wake up more refreshed.

• Sleep on a Comfortable Mattress, Bed, and Comforter

Bed quality is such an important factor in our sleep that we often overlook. The right

mattress effects good quality sleep to make sure you wake up rejuvenated and ready to seize the day! You should change your mattress every 5 to 8 years. Some might think this is the hardest fix (mattresses are so expensive, after all), but there are so many cost efficient ways to buy mattresses and such online.

Change your habits to secure your sleep. Sweet Dreams, Reader!

Self care isn’t just about pampering yourself with a day at the spa or nice relaxing evening after a stressful month. Sure, these things are wonderful, but self care should be planned and intentional, not something you fall back on once you have reached a stressful break-down. It is there to help you mitigate the accumulation of stress so that you never have to reach your wits’ end. It helps to think of self care as a beautiful garden that needs consistent tending to with water, light and proper nutrients. Waiting for the garden to dry up to a dire point and flooding it with water, albeit beneficial, isn’t nearly as effective. Self care can be implemented in any area of your life. Here are two of the most common areas people find it extremely helpful.

Physical Self Care

The physical body is usually the first thing that comes to mind when we think of self care. Physical self care is anything that supports or improves your physical body. This includes going to the gym, getting an adequate amount of sleep and taking care of your dietary needs. It also includes not ignoring medical issues, seeking the care of a nurse or physician when possible and taking any medications you are prescribed.

The goal of physical self care shouldn’t be to have a ‘perfect’ body or ‘perfect’ diet. The idea of perfection is likely to add to your stress which defeats the goal of self-care. Just aim to do the best you can, coming from a knowledge that your body is a temple and it glorifies God to take care of it (I Cor. 6:19).

Emotional Self Care

We are all emotional beings and emotional self care is all about allowing yourself to be and to accept your emotional self. With that being said, it is also about improving your emotional intelligence and learning to let go of the emotions that do not serve you and your well-being. This is no easy feat and takes a lot of practice so, like any other area of self care it is of utmost importance to approach it in a loving way. If you don’t know where to start, below are three actions you can take to support your emotional well-being.

Writing Down Your Feelings

Keeping a diary may seem silly to some, but it is an amazing tool when it comes to expressing and accepting your emotions. Without expression and acceptance emotions are difficult to get rid of. A journal helps you identify the negative emotions in your life as well as pinpoint the situations that trigger their appearance.

Finding What You Enjoy

Make time for what you enjoy. Find activities that you enjoy and find a way to do more of it. Whether this means reading a book in solitude or enjoying the company of friends, it’s important to do what brings you joy in life.

Practicing Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is like a muscle. You have to work on it in order to strengthen it. We all have room to grow and improve our emotional intelligence, but if you find that you are frequently in any of the situations below, improving in this area will make a profound difference in your life and allow you to have a powerful tool when it comes to caring for yourself.

• You have a hard time identifying what you are feeling
• You shut down instead of expressing your feelings due to frustration or inability
• You find it almost impossible to stick to your plans when you are under stress like in the case of emotional eating.

There are many ways to improve your emotional intelligence. One way is by practicing introspection. This involves thinking about what you are feeling and asking yourself questions about why you feel the way you do.  You can then try delaying your negative reactions even if for only a few minutes. If you find that after receiving bad news you have a tendency to eat or drink excessively, try delaying that response. By delaying this response a little longer each time you will find it becomes easier and you will become more confident in your ability to control yourself. The goal here is to learn that your emotions do not have to dictate what you do in life.

The Self Care Attitude

It’s important not to approach you self-care plans from a place of guilt or perceived selfishness. Self care is as important to the people around you as it is to yourself. After all, as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Self care ensures that your well-being is taken care of, allowing you to show up and be committed to the important people and obligations in your life.

Remember self care does not end with your physical and emotional self. Virtually any are of your life can benefit from self care. This includes your spirituality, finances, relationships and professional life. Find the areas of your life that cause you the most stress and aim to truly care for yourself in those areas first.

Peace, in the Bible, means to be (or feel) complete, sound. There’s a tranquility, a balance, an evenness. This feeling is something we all hope to get and keep. It brings happiness and sustains us. Here are some Bible verse about peace and how to get it.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9

God does not like for us to cause strife or engage in it. He commands us to love one another and treat each other the way we want to be treated. We should always be kind to others and not start conflict unnecessarily.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

We achieve peace through God and God alone. Nothing of the world can give us true happiness, pleasure, or peace. No matter what we do, we will never be complete without God’s love and care.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulations. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Again, God gives us peace. Know also that no one can take it away from you. A lot can be thrown at you (tribulations), but God is almighty and will take care of everything. Have peace in knowing that He has it, and there’s never a reason to despair.