Making time for self-care is important for your overall health.
From watching the news every hour to scrolling social media a little too much, it’s easy to get lost in the noise of what’s going on around us. And you’re not alone in this! We are all full of uncertainty and angst over the spread of coronavirus. From fear of ‘what should I do’ to the fear of being isolated at home… If you’ve found yourself in an extended state of quarantine, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your mental health, in addition to your physical health.
What is a quarantine?
A quarantine is a period of time where someone stays at home. It’s the next step in physical distancing to “flatten the curve,” or slow the rate of infection. Isolation – different from quarantine – is when someone who has been infected is secluded to prevent them from spreading the virus to others. No matter which situation you find yourself in, remember that taking care of yourself mentally and emotionally plays a big part in your overall health!
It’s been shown that a period of just two weeks in quarantine can be linked with serious mental health issues, which can include: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, confusion, anger, and even fatigue.
Some of these may have long-lasting effects. It’s important to check in with yourself and be honest about what you’re feeling. That said, if you have a preexisting mental health condition, make sure you continue your treatment and check in with your doctor, letting them know if symptoms change or worsen. If your mental health worsens to the point you have thoughts that life isn’t worth living, call 911 or the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
More than ever, self-care should be at the forefront of your mind.In just a few simple ways, you can work it into your time spent at home.
How to practice self-care during a quarantine
It’s common and totally normal to feel afraid and stressed during a pandemic or outbreak. But taking time to step away from the noise of the news and the opinions of social media and focus on yourselfcan help ease those feelings.
Make time for hobbies
Make time for projects that make you happy. Spend time reading, writing, drawing, knitting, decluttering, painting, meditating or doing yoga – whatever you enjoy. If you like to cook, plan out your next days of meals. Challenge yourself creatively to help fight boredom.
Exercise to promote good health
If you’re stuck in your house, take time to move around a little. There are plenty of free exercise videos you can do right at home and free trials to apps you can download to your phone. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor first if you have any questions about your ability to exercise safely and consider low impact forms of exercises.
Exercise of any kind helps boost and support the immune system. It’s also a great tool for managing anxiety and stress and will help you pass time throughout the day!
Support your immune system
Mindfulness, which can be defined as present moment awareness, has been growing in popularity more and more each year, and now is a great time to try it out for yourself. Just five minutes of meditation each day can help you reset your mind and your perspective. Meditation and breathing exercises can help to slow your heart rate down and clear your mind. When practiced regularly, it can buffer the effects of stress, which helps support your immune system.
But you don’t have to be “mindful” in a meditative way if it doesn’t work for you. Taking a bath or reading a book – and staying off social media during these times – helps to clear your mind and relax.
Ways to be mindful include:
- Breathing exercises, focusing on each inhale and exhale
- Eating healthy meals, savoring each bite
- Meditating on a positive word (relaxation, ease or calm) or an image that makes you happy
- Intentionally connecting to an old friend (electronically, of course)
- Taking a bath, noticing the warm temperature and its effects on muscle tension releasing
Take breaks from the news and social media
Taking breaks from the news and social media helps distance yourself, even a little, from what’s going on and avoid getting overwhelmed. When you’re spending time doing another activity, you’re automatically removing yourself from the barrage of news and social media that can be hard to avoid. And, when you’re practicing self-care, consider not posting it to your favorite social media channels to really embrace giving yourself a break from these outlets. It can actually feel empowering.
Taking these steps to practice self-care will help a great deal to pass the time, and to feel like you’ve done something productive with it. Seeking reliable, up to date, and accurate information can help to avoid feeling overwhelmed by all of the information that’s out there. We recommend the CDC or WHO websites for facts. Also, by seeking reliable information from trusted sources, you’ll feel well-informed and less anxious.
Remind yourself why
Remind yourself why you’re practicing isolation or quarantine. It’s to keep not only ourselves safe but our older neighbors down the street, our parents, and others we care about who may be extra vulnerable. Thank yourself for doing such an honorable and selfless act, and keep your mind busy as much as possible.
What to do if you’re sick
No matter what you do to practice self-care, remember to avoid touching your face, especially your mouth, nose and eyes. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of our elbow when coughing or sneezing to stop the spread of viruses, like COVID-19, that are spread through droplets.
Keep an eye out for any symptoms in yourself and those around you. If you or someone you care for is feeling sick, experiencing fever, having difficulty breathing, showing signs of respiratory illness or symptoms of coronavirus, call your primary care doctor right away.
And don’t forget, Adoption Choices of Texas is always here for you. If you need assistance right away or need someone to talk to, please call us at 945-444-0333.
