Self Love in Lockdown
August 4th, 2021
Lockdown has changed our whole routine again. Some of us are too busy trying to keep up with everything and some are isolated, bored and feeling down.
Whichever way you feel, it is important to practise self care. Have a good think about what you are capable of, what you need to do and planning a daily or weekly routine can make you feel more in control and a lot better about things.
And remember to be easy on yourself if you can not get everything done that is OK and at times like this you may need to increase your self care activities.
Keep up your physical activity
Exercise makes us more able to cope with any stress that comes into our life, improves our mood, gives us energy and helps us sleep well.
For some people I say think of it as medicine but make sure it is fun.
Go for your daily walk, run or bike ride, kick or bat a ball around or perhaps try something new like an online dance or circus class.
Get in touch with nature
If you consider yourself a black thumb then let me tell you there is no such thing! Anyone can learn to garden, it is just that with gardening there is so much to learn and always a lot of failures, so start with something small and easy and grow from there.
Easy to grow herbs are parsley, basil, or mint, and veggies are lettuce, silverbeet and beans. With spring just around the corner, you could plan your veggie patch and plant some seeds.
Bring some of the outside in, pick some flowers or just some greenery for a vase. I happened arrange a nice vase of herbs in the bathroom to make it smell nice, especially with the steam from the shower.
On your walks reconnect with your neighbours, keep an eye out for interesting things like bush turkeys and mushrooms or kick or blow dandelion seeds like when you were a child. You could even take cuttings from your journey. Some plants sprout roots when placed in water like basil, lavender, rosemary or salvia, just to name a few.
Take notice of all the different smells. A lot of native plants have a beautiful smell particularly after the rain.
Keep being a social butterfly
Get on your phone and video chat and call someone everyday, even if it is whilst you are cleaning or walking.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is so important to how we feel and a good sleep routine is integral to a good eating and exercise routine.
Have a good sleep routine. Plan to go to bed at the same time every night. For the half hour prior to bed do some relaxing activities, dim the lights and avoid screens.
Eat nutritiously
Not only is eating the foods our body needs healthy supporting a strong immune system but cooking can be a great creative outlet.
If you think you are not that great in the kitchen and have time on your hands, learn to cook some new meals, try some new ingredients like daikon radish, choko or mungbeans and surprise yourself at your efforts.
If you are busy perhaps make a fortnightly menu and designating people in the household to help with at least some parts of the cooking such as making the salad or steamed vegies. This takes most of the thinking out of meal planning and shopping and makes eating home cooked meals much easier.
Most importantly when we are looking after ourselves that means we can also have the capability to look after others. So if you can offer help to others in need, share the love and this will make everyone cope better and can make a world of a difference.