Guide to Self Care: 7 Tips for Surviving the Rest of Quarantine
May 14, 2020
Guess what? There’s a light at the end of the tunnel! You’re making it through one of the strangest times in modern history. Give yourself a big pat on the back (seriously)!
Maybe you’ve finally settled into a routine, maybe you’re refusing to accept to the “new normal”; maybe you’ve been doing everything you’re “supposed” to be doing during quarantine (eating healthy, staying active, hydrating, getting enough sleep, etc.), or maybe you’re just barely getting by each day. Everyone might not be in the same boat, but everyone’s in the same storm right now. Whichever boat you’re in, here’s a short guide of 7 things you can try out to help you stay afloat through the rest of quarantine.
1. Find Peace.
Whether you’re living alone or feeling distressed in a shared space, it’s important to set aside a few moments for yourself every day. It’s vital for your mental health (and those around you) that you take time for yourself to find peace in this chaotic time. See if you can incorporate one or all of these habits into your routine:
Meditation.
Meditating has a ton of scientifically proven and significant health benefits such as reducing stress, anxiety, and depression while increasing immune function and lowering cortisol levels. Not to mention, meditating slows down the aging process and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. So not only will you feel at peace, you will look refreshed as well! Are you convinced yet?
If you’re not sure where to start, there’s an overabundance of apps and guided YouTube videos at your disposal (theInsight Timerapp has over 40,000 free guided meditations).
Are you an efficient type? Try using theDoctor D. Schwab Charcoal Maskwhile you’re practicing your meditation. For the ultimate multitasking experience, simply cleanse your skin and apply the mask (leave on for 20-30 minutes for overly oily skin and 10-20 minutes for all other skin types). The Activated Charcoal and Pure Clay act like magnets to draw out impurities, and the Tea Tree Oil and Rosemary rebalance your skin leaving a blemish-free, healthy glow. Antioxidants such as Olive and Green Tea Extracts give the skin an extra boost to combat free radicals. Set your timer for your meditation, and when the timer goes off, you can rinse off the mask with warm water, leaving you feeling radiant inside and out!
Journal.
If you’ve already tried meditating and it’s just not your thing, mindfully sipping tea while journaling in the morning or at night can be just as relaxing and beneficial. Simply setting aside time to decompress and be present or reflect on your day or week ahead can bring peace to your life. While there are many different ways to journal, some of the most popular is morning pages and gratitude journaling. Test them out for yourself and see which one works best for you.
Whether you meditate for 10 minutes, relax and read with a face mask on, break out in a short solo dance party, go for a short walk, or start a gratitude journal, giving yourself “me-time” can be extremely relaxing and uplifting for your mood. To find that time, you might have to wake up earlier than your kids, roommates, or spouse, but setting your alarm a teeny bit earlier will help you transition into your work routine.
2. At-Home Spa Day.
Treat yourself to a full spa day at home. Have fun with this one, if you have kids let them join or plan to do a spa day via video chat with friends.
Take Your Spa Experience Home® with the Ambrosia Honey-Almond Face Mask. It has naturally soothing botanicals that help de-stress skin and Aloe Extract to hydrate and soothe. If slightly warmed, the mask helps to relax pores for a firm, hydrated, and refined skin texture.
Try a DIY hair mask with common kitchen products. Good House Keeping says that mixing equal parts raw organic honey with apple cider vinegar and coconut oil works well to brighten all hair types. This mask can be applied to damp hair, left in for at least 20 minutes, then shampooed out!
While you have your face and hair masks on, give yourself a manicure and pedicure at home. Use a clear topcoat is you don’t trust yourself to color inside the lines with colored nail polish.
Massage your hands and feet after your mani/pedi with the Seaweed Citrus Body Lotion. The Sweet Almond Oil acts as a free radical exchanger while protecting and softening the skin and the seaweed extract detoxifies.
3. Organize and Declutter.
As they say, “messy bed, messy head.” Self-care doesn’t always look like shopping or a spa day. It can be as simple as starting a habit of making your bed every morning. Clean out and organize your space for clarity and peace of mind.
Organize your desk or important files
Balance your budget and file your taxes (they’re due July 15th now)
Take care of your mental health by checking one more thing off your “to-do” list this week
Clean your make-up brushes. Your brushes can hold bacteria that lead to breakouts if you don’t clean them often. It’s recommended you wash them every week or so. Use the Seaweed Citrus Hand and Body Wash to clean your brushes, and follow with a little Tea Tree Prep Lotion mixed with some water and paint off the excess on a paper towel. Allow the brushes to dry 24-48 hours before using them again.
Marie Kondo your wardrobe. Step 1: Find the book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” at your library or on Amazon. Step 2: Read it (or watch her show on Netflix). Step 3: Only keep what “sparks joy” and organize your life. Step 4: Smile, because your life is so much more simple and joyful now!
4. Groove.
Two Words: Dance Party. If you’ve tried all the online fitness classes and YouTube yoga but you just can’t get into a fitness routine, throw on some music and get your groove back. Italy showed the world just how music kept them united during lockdown while singing Opera out their windows. Other cities across the world (like Buenos Aires) threw dance parties with DJ’s on their balconies. Try it out yourself! Throw on your favorite playlist and dance and sing like no one is watching, because really, who cares what your dog thinks?
5. Face Care.
If you’ve been steering clear of makeup in quarantine when you usually don’t leave the house without a full face, your skin might be singing right now! To be sure it stays in check through the rest of quarantine and beyond, set up a solid routine with the specialonDoctor D. Schwab Essentials Kit.
Giving to others is good for your mental health. Start a daily (some people go for a 21 or 30 day) habit of intentional acts of kindness. Whether you’ve been coasting through this rough patch, or you’re having a really tough time, small acts of kindness for others is guaranteed to give you a pick-me-up. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Leave a kind note for your mail carrier or delivery person
Send postcards/letters to friends and family (who doesn’t love snail mail?)
SendDoctor D. Schwab Invisible Glove™ Hand Sanitizerto a friend to show them you care
Pay for the person’s coffee behind you in the drive-thru lane
After you’ve Marie Kondo-ed your wardrobe, donate the clothes, sneakers, and shoes you don’t wear
Bring your neighbors' fresh flowers to brighten up their home and day
Let someone go ahead of you in the grocery line
7. Delete Social Media. Last but not least, here’s a controversial one to try until the quarantine is over and perhaps even after it ends. It’s been nice to stay connected, but have you noticed how much time you spend on your device and on Instagram or Facebook? Those buggers can have you scrolling for hours and forgetting why you picked your phone up in the first place. Not to mention, the constant connection leaves little time for you to stay present at the moment. Rather than deleting your accounts altogether, simply delete the apps from your phone and notice how much your time frees up. Do you pick up your phone and scroll to click the app when it’s not there? You’ll be disconnected for a little while, but talk about a detox! If you’re an avid poster, be sure to tell your close friends about your leaving and keep in touch with them via text and calls. You could even take up writing letters to your friends instead. Traditional snail mail might be refreshing. See how you feel… you always have the option to re-download them!
Lastly, take a deep breath. Everything will be ok. The way you’re feeling right now is valid. Whether you’ve been working throughout quarantine (a big thanks to the first responders, teachers, and grocery store workers), taking care of your kids, spouse, neighbors, pets, or yourself, you’re doing an amazing job. Keep up the great work!
To find out more about the importance of natural ingredients, connect with Doctor D. Schwab on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.
