14 Quarantine-Surviving Self-Care Essentials

While self-care has always been essential, perhaps it’s more important now that we are dealing with a collective worldwide trauma and lots of up-and-down emotions.

Our options for self-care are limited now that we must stay home, so I’ve outlined 14 ways you can fill your cup without spending money, taking a lot of time, or leaving your house.

Since most women struggled with creating time and giving themselves permission for self-care before Covid-19, it’s important you understand that self-care is mutually beneficial – it’s NOT selfish. When you make yourself feel good, you allow the people who rely on you to benefit as well. When you run on empty, those in your life feel it, no matter how hard you try to hide it or take pride in being a martyr. During one of the most stressful times we’ve all experienced in our lives, you must take care of yourself so you will be emotionally and mentally present for those who need you.

Here are 14 of my low-cost, quarantine-approved, self-care essentials:

1. Take a 5-Senses Shower.

• FEEL the water against your skin. Tenderly massage the shampoo around your scalp. Lather soap on your body with the love and care you give to a newborn baby.
• SMELL the natural scents of your shampoo or shower gel.
• SEE the water droplets dance and change shape as they land on your body or the ground.
• HEAR the quiet behind the sound of the shower. Notice any other sounds you hear, being mindful to solely witness any sounds, rather than attach to or create a story around them.
• Open your mouth and TASTE the water (as long as you’re not in Mexico!). Imagine you are drinking a freshly squeezed glass of your favorite juice. Can you taste it?!
• Compliment one part of your body. See its beauty, wonder, and magnificence.

2. Ensure you have something to look forward to tomorrow.
If there’s nothing on your schedule, build it in: a special cup of your favorite tea in the afternoon, Facetime date with a friend, 5-minute end-of-work-day transition dance party, new Netflix show, a slow home-cooked dinner with your hubby… choose something that gets you excited to keep you energized throughout the day.

3. Leave space in your schedule for lazy mornings or afternoons.
Extra couch cuddles with your kids or an afternoon nap with your beloved will fill your soul(s).

4. Set a gratitude alarm clock to go off 3 times throughout the day.
When it goes off, check in with the thoughts going through your head. Are you focusing on what you want to create more of in your life and being part of the solution? If not, don’t beat yourself up. Right now I’m only asking you to notice what you are thinking about and focusing on, because awareness is the first step to any change. And where our focus goes, energy flows. To bring your focus to creating more good, list three things you are grateful for right here, right now. Write them down in a gratitude journal, yell them from your patio, or get your kids involved in the fun.

5. Watch the sun rise outside or by a window.
Take in the rich colors, sounds, and the world waking up. Be open to the possibility that comes with every new beginning, including every new day.

6. Watch the sun set.
Consciously close out all the events of your day as you witness nature do its magic. Let all that happened in your day be, knowing that it unfolded just as it was meant to. Trust that the life lessons you learned will support you as you prepare for restful sleep.

7. Meditate for 5 – 10 minutes first thing in the morning.
This is a daily non-negotiable. If you only do one self-care act on this list, let this be the one. Read how to make it happen here.

8. Spread an act of kindness.
Send an appreciation text. Call a friend or family member who’s on your mind or may be lonely. Give a 100% tip for your take-out food. Order groceries for a neighbor. Bonus points if its anonymous!

9. Identify: What’s the one thing I can do right now to make me feel good?
Then go do it! Think long-term good, not instant gratification. Six cookies can make us feel good in the moment, but after the sugar high ends, we tend to crash and feel worse. Self-care is about long-term well-being and abundance.

10. Mindfully enjoy a treat.
Have one cookie, glass of wine, or a fully loaded slice of pizza. Instead of shoveling it in your mouth in front of your computer, do nothing else but eat/drink it and take in every single bite like it was your last meal. Slow down and relish the delicious flavors and honor all living things who made your treat possible.

11. Get dressed up.
Sure, the thought of wearing yoga pants every day was exciting at first, but most of us don’t feel like our best self in yoga pants 24/7. Maybe you skip the business suit you used to don, but opt for jeans or shorts that make you feel sexy, a flattering shirt that fits your style, and your favorite jewelry to spice up your Zoom calls. Do I need to remind you to shower every day?

12. Exercise.
Nearly every form of exercise is available online now, even streamed to you live so you can tap into the energy of others committed to feeling good too. Or get creative in your home with a dance party to throwback jams or stairs running. Perhaps its time to dust off those old Tae Bo or Jane Fonda DVDs.

13. Go outside.
Follow an ant on its journey. Count how many different shades of green exist on one little leaf. Feel the wind in your hair and the sun or rain on your skin. Hear the message the birds are singing to you. Drink in the colors of the sky and the artwork of the clouds. We are nature, so as we spend time in nature our body regulates back to its regular state of ease.

14. Accept that this is your life right now.
Stop wishing it were any different than it is or wondering how long this will last. Each minute you spend not accepting what is pulls time and energy away from your current, beautiful life that is happening right now. Accept what is reality and take the next best step to feel good and enjoy your life in the present moment.

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I’ve been taught that self-care falls into 4 buckets that we should contribute to every day:
1. Physical.
2. Mental.
3. Emotional.
4. Spiritual.

Make your own list of what fills your soul for each of these four areas so when you start to feel stressed, overwhelmed, blah, or in need of some love, you can quickly glance at your list and be in action to turn things around.

I truly believe that as we take care of ourselves, and be mindful of the energy we put out into this world, the pandemic will more quickly work itself out. It starts with you (as it always has). Do your part.

xo
Sara

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