By Tess Hardy
Looking after your physical and mental wellbeing can be challenging at the best of times – let alone whilst you’re in quarantine. What we’re experiencing right now is very overwhelming, scary and unpredictable. The pandemic can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress, so we want to address the importance of health and positivity during the Coronavirus crisis.
If you’re one of the many who are lost in isolation, we’ve put together some tips, advice and recommendations for those of you who are struggling to stay sane at home. We hope that these suggestions bring you peace as the world wakes to uncertainty.
How can we benefit ourselves?
1. Establish a routine
When it comes to self-isolation, you’ll find joy in establishing a routine. Having a schedule will structure your day and create a sense of normality and purpose. Our most effective tip to feel ready for the day ahead is apply some makeup and change out of your pyjamas!
If you’re adjusting from working in an office to working at home, set boundaries, e.g. 9-5 hours, and avoid overworking, especially from your bed or the sofa as it’s not good for you mentally.
Shut off, get comfy and enjoy some ‘you’ time in the evening. Apply a face mask, let your skin breathe or soak in the bath, you can find DIY beauty ideas here. Perhaps pattern your goals – what would you like to achieve tomorrow or in the next month?
2. Stay calm – keep an active body and mind
Staying calm is easier said than done, but there are several ways we can relieve our bodies and minds without leaving the house – meditation being one of them. Meditation is for everyone and it’s one of the best self-medications to slow down, breathe, come back home to yourself and notice everything around you. By remaining present, you forgo the fear of the unknown.
We have been using the app ‘Breethe’, and we would highly recommend the ‘Inner Wellness During Coronavirus’ collection. These meditations address the common concerns of anxiety, self-care, loneliness, boredom, illness and family issues. They have helped us to find moments of inner wellness during this crazy period.
Yoga and exercise are amazing practices to de-stress, stay active and keep your body moving. Make some space in the living room to stretch and do a quick home workout. YouTube is fab for easy-access tutorials. Stick on your favourite music, workout playlist or, better still, listen to an audio book or podcast. Not only can you learn a lot but it’s also great company. You can see our 5 favourites here.
Invest your time wisely by gaining new knowledge. Knowledge is power after all! Educate your mind by reading, watching documentaries, playing games or puzzles. Put your phone on silent, switch off the news, make a tea and disconnect from today’s tense society. If you’re after some eye-opening Netflix documentaries to watch, check out our article here.
3. Focus on other passions outside of work
Being in quarantine motions stillness and creativity. If you love to paint but haven’t picked up a paintbrush in years, now’s your chance. That’s the silver lining in all of this. We’re quick to complain about how we never have enough time, but now we’ve been given it in abundance – time to stop, venture out of the ordinary and become inspired again.
Do something therapeutic for your own pleasure, whether that’s arts and crafts, painting, drawing, writing or deep cleaning the house. Find a new hobby, learn something new like a different language or how to make clothes. Work on a project or start up a side hustle by signing yourself up to Depop. The list is endless for unlocking passions outside of work. Developing your skills will give you a fresh lease of life.
4. Support your immune system
We can support a strong immune system by healing the gut with food, herbs, lifestyle and mindset. Health is wealth, so make sure to eat your fruit and veggies. Garlic, ginger, asparagus, mushrooms, spice and minimal to no sugar will work wonders for your wellbeing.
You tend to eat more at home just because it’s accessible, but you can never consume too much vitamin C, so I would up your intake of vitamin tablets, tea and nourishing supplements. Make an effort with lunch choices and drink plenty of water.
Enjoy spending time cooking and baking. Make something fun from scratch or learn a new recipe to distract your mind. The house will smell incredible and you’ll have amazing snacks!
5. Check up on family and friends
Although face-to-face contact is restricted, we can still stay connected with people online. FaceTime and Skype are great tools for maintaining connections with family and friends who are all just a phone call/text/email away.
Encouraging support systems lift your mood, so regularly check up on your loved ones and those affected to see how everyone’s feeling. We need social interaction to not get lonely, fall into a bad mental state and overthink, so let’s take care of each other.
Even in self-isolation, we’re all in it together! Sometimes, it takes crisis to remember that our lives depend on each other.
At KeiSei, we want to lessen people’s anxieties about the unsettling global situation. Coronavirus has the world on edge, but it reminds us of what’s important. Even among the chaos, there’s beauty to find in community and togetherness.
When this ends, may we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be, we were called to be, we hoped to be and may we stay that way – better for each other because of the worst.
Self-quarantine is for the greater good; if we stay united, selfless and show compassion to others, the world will heal, slowly but surely. As we’re adapting to life that has changed so quickly, we’re detoxifying the planet and our future will thrive because of it.
We want you to know that we’re here for you and you’ve got this! Don’t distance yourself from faith and hope. This won’t be the last international health crisis, but hopefully the way we respond today will determine a more optimistic outcome for the future. Be kind to yourself, stay safe, stay home and send love to all!
Tess Hardy
Tess is a Fine Art graduate from the University of Lincoln, now based in South London. Due to being highly passionate about the visual arts in all forms, she is eager to build a career in journalism and gain experience in all aspects of the industry, focusing her writing on fashion, culture and lifestyle.
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