Difficult times can leave you feeling drained and unable to focus on yourself. We understand just how frustrating it can be to not be able to take good care of yourself after a long, hard week. Fortunately, there are numerous things that you can do at home that will allow you to focus more on yourself and how you feel. In doing so, you’ll notice that you are less stressed and more able to take on the day.
Meditation
Meditation is a practice that can truly help to relax and calm you down. It’s ideal for people with anxiety, depression, anger issues and those who feel as though they’re overwhelmed. Meditation typically involves finding a relaxing position and then quieting your mind and body. You start by relaxing each part of your body individually, and you allow your thoughts to wander without focusing on them. Many find that listening to soothing nature sounds or low music helps them to relax further.
Exercise
If you’re spending a lot more time indoors, you might find that you’re more prone to overeating and not exercising enough. Exercise doesn’t have to be difficult, and there are lots of at-home workouts that you can do. Whether this be a video you find online or a DVD program that you’ve purchased to try out, you’ll be able to keep up with your physical fitness so that it doesn’t get pushed to the wayside.
Warm Bubble Baths
You should never underestimate the relaxing nature of warm bubble baths. Before bed, you may find that a relaxing bath helps to relax you and relieves tension from different parts of the body. If you are able to find them, think about adding lavender oil or bath salts to the water to deeply relax and rejuvenate your soul.
Engage in a Hobby
Spending more time alone or in the house can be depressing. If you’re already prone to anxiety and depression, living this way can make things worse. Fortunately, there are a range of hobbies that can stimulate your mind and improve your overall mood. These hobbies could include anything from gardening, doing crafts with the kids or even getting into an online game you’ve always wanted to try.
Spend Quality Time with Your Loved Ones
If you’re spending more time with your loved ones, now’s a great time to truly connect and engage with them. If you have a spouse or partner, use this time to connect on a more intimate level. Give each other massages at night and get in a soothing bath together. Devote a little time every day to each member of the family. This helps to improve the connections that you have in a way that brings everyone together.
Take Time to Get a Restful Night of Sleep
Sleep is so important when it comes to self-care. Professionals recommend that healthy adults get anywhere from seven to eight hours of deep, restful sleep each night. You may want to consider setting up a nighttime routine for yourself, as this will help to ready both your mind and body for slumber. You can use aromatherapy to further relax you, and you may even want to avoid using devices and gadgets for about 30 minutes before going to sleep.
Avoid Emotional Eating
Emotional eating is completely normal and it happens to the best of us. When you’re in a distressing or difficult time, it can be all too easy to reach for the snack cabinet and overindulge. The problem with overeating is that it’s only covering your emotions, since it won’t help in terms of actually eradicating the problem. When the difficult situation is over, you’re left feeling heavy and unhealthy. The best way to avoid emotional eating is to keep a journal and to track what you’re eating and doing each day. When you’re tempted to overindulge, think about the consequences of doing so and engage in a more wholesome activity, like going outside for a quick walk around the block.
Take Vitamins
Many people are vitamin deficient, which is a problem if you want to practice good-quality self-care. You don’t have to spend a small fortune on vitamins, since some cheaper ones are just as good and provide all the nutrients that you need. It’s a good idea to take a multivitamin each day to bridge the gap in what you’re currently lacking.
Follow a Daily Schedule
When your life feels erratic and unbalanced, one thing that can help tremendously is following a daily schedule. Keep a scheduled journal with you and jot down what you want to accomplish and what you need to do. This journal can include chores around the house or self-care moments throughout the day that will help you to feel better overall.
We invite you to try these at-home self-care practices yourself to see what a difference they can make in how you’re currently feeling. It is important to remember that you’re not alone and that we are all in this together. Self-care is essential for the body, mind and soul, and it can greatly reduce mental health disorders, like anxiety and depression, when practiced regularly.
