How I'm Practicing Self Care Right Now
To say 2020 has been a tough year is an understatement. We’re all experiencing big changes right now, on the macro and micro level. And in my natural Taurean ways, I sometimes struggle with staying grounded when life starts to feel turbulent. Self care has become increasingly important for me, and I’m sure many of you, just in the past month alone. And while I know there is a lot of conversation around self care, I wanted to share with you all today the very practical (ie. unglamorous) steps I’m taking in my daily life to rebalance myself. Hopefully it helps you in some way, or at the very least acts as a reminder that you’re not alone in this feeling.
Social Media Detox
So much of my creative life now revolves around social media and it’s easy to get sucked into the constant need to stay connected at all times. One of the most important things I’ve done for my mental health lately is to put down the phone and not feel guilty about it. In the past I’ve actually announced when I will be signing off, only to feel guilty that I wasn’t fully ready to participate again after a day or two. Now I’m just giving myself as much time away from social media as I need, and as frequently as I need. Don’t get me wrong, I am super grateful for the amazingly uplifting community I’ve found online but I’ve realized that we can only really make meaningful connections with each other if we take care of ourselves first. So make sure you’re not sacrificing “availability” for others with your own well being.
Moving & Stretching
As we all know, our mental and physical health are so very connected. I was recently reminded of that when a small physical issue, which was caused by lack of movement and stretching, resulted in a bit of an anxiety-induced meltdown. If you’re anything like me, you may often ignore mental/emotional stressors until they manifest physically in your body. The good news is small physical movement throughout the day can do wonders for your mental and emotional wellbeing. Don’t forget to do some stretches every hour or so while working to release any tension building up in your body. Take a walk to clear your head, get some fresh air and blood circulation. The smallest things can really bring you into awareness of your body and out of your head for a bit.
Get Your Zzzs
My sleep schedule has probably been effected the most by recent events, as I’ve had more sleepless nights in the past month than ever before. Just maintaining a regular sleeping (and waking) schedule is so important to feeling alert and content throughout the day. If you struggle to get your zzz’s like me, I would suggest giving yourself time to wind down in the evening, avoiding screens for an hour before bed and giving yourself a slow and relaxing night routine.
Call Someone You Love
While I may suggest making yourself less connected when it comes to social media, I encourage you to redirect some of that time and energy into connecting more with loved ones via phone calls, emails, letters a video chats. It may feel hard to connect these days when everyone has been self-isolating for so long but really it’s just a matter of picking up the phone once in a while. Make sure you’re taking time to talk with those you love and trust. As I mentioned before, you’re not along right now and we’re all being pushed to stay connected in new and creative ways.
