It isn't just you, what you are feeling is normal, whether you're with family or alone this self-isolation is both mentally and physically draining.
If you've lost track of the days, your sleep schedule has fallen out of sync, you've begun seeing the likeness of Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night in your coffee, or you find yourself emotionally and mentally drained, I am here to tell you that you are not alone! We are all feeling it, some more than others, and it is indeed a struggle.
You are not lazy, this entire situation is exhausting.
The overwhelming amount of negative information alone is enough to drain anyone of anything other than the anxiety and stress of the world.
There is a reason why mental health care has grown not only in conversation but has gained more attention over the years and why motivational speakers continue to inspire us. Our brains and mental state really are one of the most important things to protect, and our mental health is crucial!
This has grown in popularity because abstaining from negative self-talk really does change your perception of every situation - and it works.
The amount of COVID-19 Crisis information overwhelmingly flowing through social media is absurd. From panicked buying to political debates, facts mixed with warnings, and terrifying figures that most of us do not understand, it's all too much.
We have severely misjudged our ability to be able to handle all of this negativity, and just how much of our energy it takes just to cope. It results in us feeling overwhelmed, burdened and more anxious than ever before.
For me, this shows itself in the form of high levels of stress and feeling like I am responsible to be well informed and take care of others around me. It has ultimately made me quite incapable of handling my emotions at times and made reaching out to check in with people who I care about nearly impossible.
A friend of mine asked me, "How are you even able to wake up at a decent time every day?" Someone in my family is concerned about government conspiracy, and some of my friends are bent on breaking safety pre-cautions because they're already essential workers.
I have to admit since Nicholas and I have no children and are furloughed, I absolutely love not waking up to an alarm. I mean, who wouldn't right? But keeping close to our sleeping schedule has not been easy, I give myself gentle reminders throughout the day, and that seems to work for my internal clock but it can't work for everyone. So here are some of my tips to not just survive this Quarantine/Self-Isolation period, but how to thrive from it!
Some of our personal favorite options for these tricks will be listed and linked below!
Limit your Social Media time.
I'm sure I sound like someone's mother here, but I'm going to say it any way.
There are only so many quizzes, memes, and "I spy on your Camera Roll" games you can play on Facebook. I'm sure between all of that you've scrolled past at least two or three Coronavirus posts, and you probably clicked on one.
Instagram only allows so much mindless scrolling and story watching, which can result in a game of comparison and is never good for your mental health. Tik Tok is just hours of videos that can be spent while falling into the rabbit hole of short-attention-span entertainment.
Limiting your time on Social Media reduces the outlets of negativity and a load of information, both false and accurate, occupying precious space in your mind.
Take the time to be grateful each morning.
Grattitude Journal daily - before you start your day.
It doesn't have to be in a physical journal or an entire paragraph, but take the time to reflect each morning on what you are grateful for.
I try to list five things daily in the notes section on my phone, and they don't have to be exceptionally perceptive or deep either, they could be quite simple and maybe even silly. One day last week I wrote that I was grateful for: my shoes, my favorite socks, my nails, the fact that we had found toilet paper, and just that the sun was shining.
Of course, I'm grateful for the roof over our heads, the health of our families and my husband - but that day I was grateful for my Harley Quinn and BB8 socks. 🤷🏼♀️
Drink your water.
Here I am, mothering you again, but let me say it because I care.
I can be quite terrible about this, to be honest, Nicholas has to remind me every day on top of my own personal reminders that go off on my phone throughout the day.
We often forget to stay properly hydrated or gravitate to our favorite sugary, alcoholic, or caffeinated beverages when we're not conscious. Whether you worked out before the self-isolation period, began working out now or don't - drink your water!
As humans, our body is primarily water, and the less we have consumed, the more we retain making us feel sluggish and unable to focus.
Get Inspired! Get creative or try something new.
Have you ever wanted to speak French or pick up painting? Now is as a good a time as ever!
Take the time to stimulate your brain, and yes, I do believe video games count.
Puzzles have surged in popularity, and pricing, since the country and the globe has taken to isolation to prevent the rapid spread of this virus. Most of us have access to the internet, to which there is plenty of puzzle and mind-stimulating games, tutorials, and massive amounts of knowledge.
For once, "I don't have the time" is no longer an excuse! We were given this time, like it or not, so making the most of it with just doing one thing a day that gives you a sense of completion or growth can really change your mood!
Move your Body.
Even if it's just a walk around the yard or a circle in your apartment, stop being seditary.
Get that blood flowing!
Even if you work in an office pre-Coronavirus, you typically would get up at least a few times a day to walk even if it's just to the car or to lunch - you spend at least ten-minutes moving. My personal suggestion is thirty minutes, and if you can't move for thirty minutes, aim for ten or try some stretching! Meditation or Yoga is also great to help center yourself and move your body and mind.
Get dressed, fully dressed, at least once a week.
Putting in the effort of routine, sparks something in our subconcious that everything is normal, even if it's not.
There's a reason why I like to wear my shoes around the house regardless of my outfit.
For me, taking off my bra at the end of the workday was a solid sigh of relief - I finally got to relax. Now, in a twist of fate, putting one on makes me feel like I'm ready to face the world - or just my living room. If I don't feel like putting on a proper outfit, for fear of them falling victim to my cat's claws, I instead put on makeup, shoes, and make sure I sit at the table rather than the couch. For Nicholas, and the same fear of the cat's claws, styling his hair rather than just leaving it "fluffy" (as I call it) really makes the difference in mindset.
Limiting Social Media Time:
I, like most people, use my phone to help "wake up" in the morning. The early morning Facebook and Instagram scroll was never something I thought too much about until this period of Quarantine. Now, I'm hyper-conscious of how much time I've spent on social media. I'm just as guilty and falling into the rabbit hole of articles, memes, games, and clickbait - so I have begun noting the time and trying to limit myself to increments of 15 minutes. My tip: this may be the perfect opportunity to use the screen time setting that your smartphone may have.
Journal your gratitude daily:
After breakfast, I like to take the chance to reflect before beginning my day. Like I mentioned before, you can jot these down in the notes section of your phone or in a notebook! Anything that brings you joy or anything that you are thankful for.
Drink your water:
I aim to drink a gallon of water a day, and I know it sounds like a lot, but it works wonders for my health. Drinking a gallon of water a day helps reduces headaches, regulate bodily fluids, keep skin clear and increase your energy. Nicholas and I have four alarms set as "flag poles" to mark each water bottle we should have finished: 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm. We each have a 32oz Hydro Flask, so four of those makes one gallon! It's not as intimidating when you break it up into small amounts!
Get Inspired:
I am obsessed with all things French, it's true. Nicholas and I practice French every day with the app called Duolingo, and it's completely free! We're both studying french now but are also interested in learning Japanese after that!
I started using Skillshare a few months ago and have continued to use it to grow my knowledge in marketing, music, fashion, and photography! Use this link to get two months free! 🙌 (Hopefully, we'll all be done with our self-isolation before that!) Two free months of Skillshare!
My current top three video game choices to pass the time:
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Nintendo Switch)
Overwatch (I use Xbox One, but it is available on all consoles)
Horizon Zero Dawn (Playstation 4)
Move Your Body:
Chris Hemsworth, yes Thor himself, has a fitness app with a seven-day free trial, and has even mentioned a free six week trial for new users only on Centr.com! More Info on his Instagram. Carrie Underwood also has a free app (apple exclusive) called Fit52 - that helps you do simple movements at home, all based on a deck of cards. I personally use them both - and they're wonderful for at home and small space use!
For mental clarity and yoga or stretching, I use my favorite app - Calm. I use this to meditate daily and swear by the Sleep Stories. Learn more at Calm.com.
Get Dressed:
There is something about waking up and getting ready for the day like you would any other day. It really kickstarts your mind into gear. Even if I don't wake up until 10, and I usually do this on the days I'm stuck in my deepest Quarantine funk, I start my day like I'm off to work! "What if I don't want to wear my clothes around the house?" Do you do your makeup or hair? That counts! Are you willing to put on shoes? Small gestures, even just to and for yourself, can go a long way!
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