Now more than ever, it is important to take care of yourself, but it is even harder than normal. Here are some ways you can care for yourself during this stressful time.

We are in unprecedented times with the current pandemic. We are all doing the best we can, but we are all stressed or overwhelmed. I am not here to tell you to learn a new language or find a new hobby, but self-care is more crucial now than ever. Here are some practical tips to get you through this difficult time.

Plan it Out

Make a daily routine that works for you, realistically. This will help you keep a sense of normalcy. Don't deviate too much from your pre-lockdown schedule. My friends, this includes dressing and showering. I know it was fun the first couple of weeks to have pajama day every other day and double up on deodorant and dry shampoo, but it is time to stop now. Yes, you, working from home. I see you. I appreciate you. At least change into a new pair of sweatpants every couple of days.

You also need to schedule in some self-care time and stick to it. It can be in the evenings, first thing in the morning or the afternoons, just pick a time, mark it in your 2020 planner you aren't using and stick to the plan!

Get Moving

It is important for your mental and physical health to get physical exercise, even if it is just a daily walk and some light stretching. Bonus points if it is outdoors because you need fresh air, too.

Journal

Start writing it down. All of it. Even if you did practically nothing that day, you still had thoughts and feelings. Days will still run together, but journaling can help make more sense of the passing of the time and help you get your emotions out safely.

Have a Rescue Activity

When the stress gets too much, have a rescue activity that doesn't involve food or drink (unless the drink is water). Some examples include:
Prayer/meditation
Bath or shower with favorite products
Color in a coloring book
Light reading, i.e. nothing too deep, scary or panic inducing.
Guilty pleasure TV show

Hell, you could even just sit in a room quietly with some candles until you feel calm. Whatever you like to do, do it. That said, you need some time limits, especially on the TV watching. Lose yourself in the activity for a bit until you can feel calmer and more at ease. Then return to regularly scheduled programming.

Cut back on Alcohol and Caffeine

I know. I know.

For those of you that kept scrolling after reading that subtitle, hear me out.

Alcohol and caffeine are depressants and stimulants of the nervous system respectively, which means they can worsen the symptoms of anxiety and depression that you may be feeling. I am not saying cut it out completely; I am not a sadist and we have all suffered enough, but cut back. Make consumption of those beverages a part of your self-care routine. Relax with a quiet cup of coffee in the morning when you rise and have a drink before bed once or twice a week.

This all seems simple enough, but admittedly, it is deceptively difficult, especially in the times we are in. We all want to be productive members of society and go back to the way it was before COVID-19, but we also need time to adapt to these new sets of circumstances. We need to sit and breathe with our feelings. They won't go away just because they have been ignored or just because you are more productive than ever. They will come back, bigger and stronger, so you may as well handle those feelings now and take care of yourself before life goes back to being the fast-paced memory it once was.