Since becoming a parent self-care is something I now take extremely seriously. With two small children and a partner who doesn’t work set hours, I have tended to, put them before my own needs all of the time, before. I simply brushed it off as ‘that’s what wives and mothers do’. Yes, I am a wife and yes I am a mother but I’m also a human being, who if stretched too far will break. Therefore, after a number of trips to the doctors and even the hospital (yikes) late last summer, I learned I need to prioritise myself a bit more. This cannot be to the detriment of my children, obviously. However, a bit of me time every now and again to regroup and chill out is necessary. With the added stress of these uncertain times, self-care during lockdown is paramount.
What Is Self Care?
Self-care means looking after yourself because you want to, not the basics that you need to do just to get by and function. It means doing things for you that you enjoy in order to unwind, chill out, relax etc. It does also mean attending regular doctor, dentist and optician appointments, things people tend to put off, especially if they are not feeling like themselves. That means visiting the professional Dentist in Turlock is a rather healthy self-care ritual! If you live a hectic life, self-care is about finding the time to do things for yourself that revitalise you. When you are feeling rubbish (physically or mentally) then you will not be your usual self. If people rely on you (family, friends, colleagues, customers etc) this will show.
A bit of time out to take care of yourself has been proven to reduce stress. If you feel happier and more content then you will enjoy life more, even during difficult times. It also prevents burnout which is what happened to me. I was pulling myself in so many directions at once. Even though my mind was strong and I didn’t feel stressed or burnt out, my body was exhausted. Not just had one too many late nights or a busy day exhausted, but properly exhausted. The doctor prescribed, together with a myriad of pills, two weeks of bed rest.
Two weeks of bed rest was a bit too much for me to handle, I get bored very easily, but I did take it easy and I started to introduce more self-care into my daily routine. It was the wake-up call I needed to realise that it’s not selfish or self-indulgent to take time out for myself. It’s something I and everyone need and should not be neglected, regardless of what else is going on.
Reasons Why People Do Not Prioritise Self Care
In my case, it was simply ‘lack of time’. Even though I have now made time for myself, some things I enjoy and make me feel good, I still don’t have the time to do daily (I mean come on, who has time to relax in a bubble bath for an hour a day?), and that’s fine. I simply mix and match on a daily basis to ensure that I am on top form not only for myself but for my family and friends too. Having time is a big issue for many, especially if you live a busy life.
There are also a number of reasons why people do not prioritise self-care.
Some people can’t afford to indulge too often. Beauty treatments, salon appointments and yoga classes all come at a price. Therefore you may not be able to opt for certain ways to self-care on a daily basis. However perhaps weekly or monthly instead? Having an appointment will give you something to look forward to. In between appointments perhaps you could find substitutes/other things to make you feel good.
Exercise is not only good for your body but also your mind, but gym memberships, especially at the big swanky gyms, can be expensive. However, there are loads of free at-home workouts on the internet which are a great way to start the day and don’t cost a penny. Perfect if you consider exercise to be part of your self-care routine.
What Does Self Care Mean To Me?
Self-care means something different to everyone? What one person enjoys another would shudder at. Some people like rest and relaxation assisted by Blessed CBD oil supplements, while others enjoy getting their adrenalin pumping by pounding the pavement. It’s all about finding what’s right for you. Here are some of the things I enjoy when taking some me time:
- Travel (obviously)
- Going for a long walk
- Getting my hair and nails done
- Going for a long drive
- Spending time with friends and family (usually with a glass of wine in hand)
Basically all the things I cannot do during the lockdown.
Self Care During Lockdown
Because I cannot do any of the things I enjoy and class as self-care during the lockdown and also because the kids are now at home all day, every day, I have quickly had to find new ways of making myself feel good and look after myself. I’m not going to lie, it’s tough cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, homeschooling, working and packing to move house all while not being allowed to leave the house for longer than an hour a day, but I do not want to end up in the same predicament I found myself in last year. Therefore, once the kids are in bed and the jobs for the day have been done, it’s time for some me time. Maybe you are in the same boat?
Things are different, that’s a fact and something that we are all realising very quickly. The majority of things we once enjoyed we now cannot take part in. Therefore here are some cheap, quick and easy ideas for self-care during lockdown which may make you feel more like your normal self.
- Bake
- Cook
- Deep condition your hair
- Exercise (YouTube, DVD etc)
- Get creative – draw, paint etc
- Get some vitamin d by sitting outside/balcony (if you have the option)
- Give yourself a facial (even if just a sheet mask)
- Give yourself a hand massage and paint your fingernails
- Listen to music
- Meditate
- Play computer games
- Read
- Speak to friends and family (call, text, FaceTime, Zoom, House Party etc)
- Stay hydrated
- Swap coffee for water/less caffeinated drink
- Take a long bubble bath
- Take a nap/have an early night
- Try a hemp-derived product from https://area52.com/ for health, as a tool for self-growth & creativity or purely for recreation
- Watch trash TV
- Write (blog, diary, journal etc)
During these testing times, it could be easy to forget about you. You may think what is the point? There is always a point and self-care is not a reward or treat, it should be incorporated into your daily and weekly routines, regardless of what else is going on in the world. If you’re feeling stressed and the virus and the lockdown are getting to you, please take some time out for yourself – you are worth it.
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