Quarantine Self-Care

How’s everyone doing out there? Personally, I’m struggling. As a true self-proclaimed extrovert, not seeing friends or family has been rough. Canceling my twin’s birthday parties, upcoming vacations, school events, social events with friends, even playdates absolutely destroys me. Though we are finally settling into a bit of routine, the days are long.

As it seems the general consensus with a lot of my friends, my emotions have really been a roller-coaster. Some mornings I wake up ready to tackle the day, while other mornings, I wake up with a dooming sense of dread of how I am going to fill the next 12 hours. I’m trying, TRYING to see the positive, but it’s difficult. 

With that said, I think now more than ever, we need to practice self-care. Sure, we’ve received lists of resources for our kids, but what about ourselves? What are you currently doing for YOU? We need to find things (quarantined approved, of course) that make us happy and give us a moment of peace. Here are a few myself and other FCMB contributors have found helpful over the past few weeks:

1. Online Workouts

Most exercise studios are now live-streaming workouts. If you already belong to some sort of exercise facility, I can guarantee they have some kind of online option. I love it because it’s a familiar face (aka my trainer) in this time of routine upheaval and uncertainty. If you don’t belong to a gym or studio, there are many free online workout classes you can find via a simple YouTube search. Is it easy to workout with two 4-year-olds and an 8-month-old crawling all over me? No. But, when the baby goes down for a nap, and I can throw on a show for the older kids I have made it work. And let me tell you, I feel SO much better once I can get a sweat in. You will too, trust me. 

2. Go for a Walk/Run

Pop in your headphones and get some fresh air. Turn on a funny podcast or just crank some music. Early 2000’s rap always puts me in a better mood. If you’re lucky and there’s another adult in the home with you, take the hour by yourself. If not, strap those kiddos into the stroller and tune out the constant “Mommy” for twenty minutes. They’ll be okay. 

3. Order Food From Your Favorite Restaurant 

Food always makes me feel better. Restaurants are struggling. This one is a no brainer for me. Like many of you, our family is taking a financial hit, and we have to budget more tightly. We’ve decided our splurge is to pick a weekend night and order in. It’s something to look forward to and help support our community!

4. Take a Bath

I can’t remember the last time I took a bath. Usually, it’s a quick shower to rinse of the sweat from my workout, all the while being screamed at by the tiny dictators. Put the kids to bed or put your spouse in charge of dinner and treat yourself to a nice soak. Hey, throw some bath bombs in there. Get crazy!

5. Order a New Book

Personally, I can really get lost in a good book. It always puts me in a better mood. There are so many options as well. You can order “real” books from any online bookseller (think Barnes and Noble or Amazon). Look into whether a small local bookshop has online capabilities, or maybe they will do delivery if you call them! If you’re on a budget, your local library has virtual lending capabilities for electronic devices. 

6. Virtual Shopping

Many local businesses are offering “virtual shopping.” Essentially, you can call up the business, and they will take you around the store on FaceTime or another online streaming platform. Or you can shop online and have your goods directly delivered to your front door. Obviously, big companies like Amazon do this regularly, but local small businesses have started to do the same. I mean, they call it “retail therapy” for a reason, right?

7. Wash and Style Your Hair

This seems simple, but when’s the last time you washed your hair? Actually, blowdried it? It’s a small act that I guarantee will make you feel better.

8. Find a New Television Show 

Pick a new show to look forward to. There are so many streaming services available with interesting mini-series documentaries and hilarious shows. Don’t binge it, but instead watch an episode or two every night. This will give you something to look forward to at the end of the day. Personally, I can’t wait for 8 p.m. tonight when my kids are in bed, and I can watch another episode of Tiger King on Netflix!

9. Virtual Wine/Coffee Date 

If you’re craving some adult social interaction (like me), a great option is to set up a virtual date with a friend. Grab a coffee or a glass of wine and catch up. It’s not the same as being in person, but it really does help with the feeling of isolation. There are so many platforms you can use to do this: FaceTime, Skype, Zoom… the list goes on. 

10. Try a New Recipe

I’m not a cook. Or a baker. Truthfully, I’m really just not super domestic in the kitchen at all. My children’s meals are typically Applegate chicken nuggets or Annie’s mac and cheese. However, one thing I’ve found is that cooking can be therapeutic. Who knew? And by following “quarantine rules,” you don’t even have to go to the store. There are so many home chef box options for making a delicious dinner: Blue Apron, Dinnerly, Green Chef, Hungryroot, Gobble, Purple Carrot… I could keep going forever. A simple online search of “meal box services,” will give you so many options. Give it a try! 

How are you practicing quarantine self-care?