Pandemic Self Care

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If you’re reading this we are probably in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. At least there better not be another pandemic anytime soon. It might seem like that’s all anyone ever talks about. Perhaps you are sick of hearing about it. I know I am. However I think it’s important to learn about pandemic self care.

Pandemic Self-Care is important - here are some tips on physical, emotional/mental, social and intellectual health.

Pandemic Self Care

So what exactly is self care? You know it means caring for yourself I’m sure. But in what way? Self care can be about your physical, mental/emotional, social or even intellectual health. We should practice self care all the time but it’s especially important during a global pandemic.

Pandemic Self-Care is important - here are some tips on physical, emotional/mental, social and intellectual health.

Physical Health

This is probably the one that everyone knows what we should be doing. To take care of your physical self you’ll want to eat right and exercise more. It’s not that simple though. Stress makes us want to indulge in chocolate or wine more than veggies and whole wheat grains.

Unless you were already living a very healthy diet, you probably don’t find it easy to change your eating habits while stressed. However this is the best time to try. A healthy diet means a better immune system. It’s hard to exercise when you are facing a lockdown or quarantine. Try an indoor or backyard workout. It can be yoga, Pilates, weight lifting (if you have weights) or an aerobic workout. Do whatever you feel like doing and have the equipment for.

Mental/Emotional Health

Many people who didn’t have mental health issues before are finding they are struggling. This is understandable for a pandemic. Try not to feel ashamed, you have not failed. Whether you are experiencing signs of depression, anxiety, OCD, anger issues or anything else, you are NOT alone. Even if you already had mental health issues, you may find they have become worse during the pandemic. This is understandable too. Either way, contact your doctor and tell them what is going on. Be open and honest with them so they can help you.

Normally I’d suggest joining a support group for your condition. However since we are social distancing, this might not be possible in person. I highly recommend Facebook groups. There is a group for everything. You just have to find the active ones. This is not a sponsored post. I just love Facebook groups. I’m in at least one group for every medical condition I or one of my family members has or might have. I find them very helpful. It’s nice to talk to someone who gets it.

If you suffer from depression you know that it’s not simply a matter of “being happy.” However caring for your physical health is necessary for your mental health. So make sure to follow the suggestions in the section above as well.

Pandemic Self-Care is important - here are some tips on physical, emotional/mental, social and intellectual health.

Social Health

Yes Social Health is a thing. In 2020 the idea that we call it physical distancing and not social distancing came up. It makes a good point. We can still be social while keeping our distance in many ways. However the term social distancing has stuck. Just remember that it’s your body that you are keeping away from other people’s bodies. You can still talk from afar, video chat or talk on the phone.

Sometimes that doesn’t seem like enough though. Our bodies NEED touch. A hug, a back rub or a kiss can do wonders for our mental and social health. Of course during a pandemic, those same touches can be dangerous. So what does one do?

If no one in your house is sick, it’s okay to kiss and hug among your household. If you live alone, try a side hug with a family member or friend or make sure you are both masked at least. Basically just use your common sense when deciding on risk. If the risk of no touch causing social or mental health issues is greater than the risk of touch, then go ahead.

Intellectual Health

You don’t hear as much about Intellectual Health. Have you ever spent a day in bed doing absolutely nothing? Perhaps you were sick, or depressed, or perhaps just really, really tired. That would be an example of the opposite of intellectual health. To keep your intellectual health intact try some of these:

  • Put together a jigsaw puzzle. You can work on a big one a little each day for weeks.
  • Read a book, especially nonfiction.
  • Do a crossword puzzle or word search or sudoku. You can find books of them at a store or free ones online. There are even apps for them.
  • Listen to a podcast on a topic of interest. This can often be done while doing monotonous tasks such as chores or using a treadmill.
  • Start a Bullet Journal or any other type of journal. You can keep track of your cleaning routine, day to day tasks or your word of the year.
  • If you don’t live alone, play some word games or strategy games. Need some game suggestions?
  • Write a book or start a blog. The pandemic for some people means you are home more. What better way to spend your time than to write?

As you can see, pandemic self-care is more than just eating veggies and walking more. There is more to you than your body. I hope this post has been helpful.

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