5 EASY, (NOT-SO-OBVIOUS) SELF-CARE TIPS FOR TIMES OF WORRY

The past few weeks have been notable. Likely full of uncertainty, confusion and higher levels of stress/worriedness/anxiety. Facing a global health crisis is anything but straightforward and can often stir up unwanted thoughts or emotions. 

During times of high stress, it is especially important to continue to prioritize a self-care routine that brings you calmness and helps to re-center. This routine does not need to be complex and should be something that is fairly easy to maintain and depend upon no matter what. If you are in need of some extra self-care, here are 5 ideas that may speak to you. 

1. DIAL-UP POSITIVITY, DIAL-DOWN NEGATIVITY

While this may seem cliché, it is one of the simplest, yet effective tips for managing self-care. All interactions, relationships and experiences impact us and either help to uplift or bring us down. During times of high stress, it is important to evaluate how the things in your immediate, daily life affect you. If they bring you joy and positivity, keep them around. In fact, increase your exposure to these things. If they bring you down, or make you feel more anxious, put up some self-care “shields”. Give yourself permission to step away from these things in order to prioritize mental and emotional wellbeing. 

2. BECOME OBSESSED WITH SOMETHING (NEW)

There are always those “things” that we wish we could do. Maybe its learning a new language, reading more books, playing an instrument, researching/becoming an expert on something new, or phoning/communicating with loved ones more often. 

Use these periods of high stress to pour energy into something you wished you were better at. Whether that’s a physical skill or a personality trait, work on yourself. Embrace being the beginner and expanding what makes you, you. Visualize your most ideal self and evolve further into that person.

3. CREATE A COZY SPACE

The spaces that we spend time in can either contribute to a sense of calm or contribute to a sense of clutter. Your space is important and should make you feel at ease. Take an extra 15 minutes in the morning to make your bed, clean the counters, straighten up that shelf…etc. to make you feel like your space is in order. Not only will you find that you can likely be more productive throughout the day, but also that your mood and thoughts are better. 

4. COOK COMFORT FOODS

Visualize the foods that brought you comfort during childhood or throughout your life. Most likely, there are a few that pop into your mind automatically. Carve out some extra time on the weekend to prep one (or two, or three…) of these dishes. Not only will it be reminiscent and semi-therapeutic, filling you with warm thoughts/memories of good times, but it will make the present moment warmer as well. Rather than do it alone, grab your partner, best friend, sibling, etc. and make these meals together. 

5. GRATITIUDE + PERSPECTIVE  

During periods of uneasiness, gratitude can be the last thing on our minds. It is often easier to focus on what is going wrong, rather than what is going right. However, there are always things to be grateful for. Begin your day by thinking of 5. This helps to put things into perspective and shift your focus towards the positivity in your life. That way, no matter what the day holds, in the good times and the challenging, the day still begins with gratitude.