Three Tips for Practicing Self-Care During Quarantine
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
During these stressful times, taking care of your physical and mental health is not just important, it is essential to your overall wellbeing. However, the uncertainty state of the world can sometimes make it difficult to find balance in your new day-to-day routine.
To help explore ways we can all take better care of ourselves during this time, we recently hosted a virtual session titled Finding Balance: Maintaining Mental & Physical Health in Quarantine and Beyond. Lead by our Education and Community Initiatives Fellow, Alyssa Williams, the webinar offered an opportunity to discovered new ways to maintain physical and mental health during the COVID-19 crisis. More importantly, the webinar also featured an interactive component, allowing participants to share their favorite self-care strategies and learn from one another.
The session also served as the first installment in our Culture for Change Preview Series. Over the next several weeks, we will be hosting a collection of virtual sessions focused on providing community leaders like you with the opportunity to grow, learn and connect. These sessions offer a sneak peek at what is in store for our full Culture for Change Conference this summer!
A full recording of the session is available here. (The presentation begins at the 23:07 minute mark)
To help share some tips you can use to find balance during this time, we’ve put together a quick recap of the biggest takeaways from the session!
Start With The Basics
Effective self-care starts with making sure you are meeting your basic needs both physically and emotionally. If you begin to feel anxious or down, try asking yourself a couple of important questions:
Am I drinking enough water?
When was my last meal?
When was the last time I got some sun?
Am I doing things that bring me joy?
Am I giving myself the same grace that I’m allotting to others?
When one (or multiple) of these basic needs are not being filled for an extended period of time, it can have a big impact on your overall state of mind. Remember: it’s okay to not be okay. If you are searching for online or local mental health services, check out these resources:
Feed Your Body and Your Mind
Tasty snacks are an important ingredient in any self-care routine and we received some great ideas during the session! Here are some of our favorite recommendations:
Asian snack mix with wasabi peas
White cheddar popcorn
Peanut butter M&Ms
Salted rosemary shortbread cookies
BBQ kettle chips
Extra cheddar Goldfish
Cookies with peanut butter
Apples with peanut butter
Jelly beans
White cheddar popcorn
Home-baked dark chocolate chip cookies
Peanut butter and oats power bites
Reese's eggs
Kiwis
Slice and bake cookies
Pancakes with fruit & syrup
Dark chocolate
Chips and guac
“Definitely Wine” (for those 21 and older)
Make Time For You
Quarantine can provide an opportunity to spend more time doing the things you love or allow you to discover a new hobby. Here are some of the fun ways you all are spending your time:
Walks and hikes
Journaling
Virtual book clubs with friends
Trying new recipes
Rewatching a favorite TV show or discovering a new one
Virtual happy hours
Thank you to everyone who participated in the first installment of our Culture for Change Preview Series! We hope these tips and ideas help bring some much-needed rest and relaxation to your life during these uncertain times.
Mark your calendars for the Culture for Change Conference on September 14-17! This unique four-day virtual will allow participants to explore skills and strategies in the following areas:
Personal Leadership Development
Managing and Leading
Organizational Culture
Whether you are a team manager looking to be more efficient with your leadership time or a professional interested in influencing your organization’s culture, this conference has the right session for you!