Being in isolation/quarantine is trying. There is so much happening right now, and it’s just overwhelming sometimes. Taking care of yourself right now is absolutely critical.
If self-care isn’t a priority for you, it needs to be. Why?
The CDC site states:
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include
- Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Worsening of mental health conditions
It can also increase substance abuse and cause relapses in those who’ve fought hard for sobriety.
The first way to avoid these things is to make self-care a priority. Among many options for self-care, being under a stay at home order can be turned into an opportunity.
Starting a project you’ve been wanting to get to, or finishing one you haven’t been able to finish is an awesome way to practice self-care. Projects don’t have to be about building an addition to the house, either. A project I’ll be working on the next couple of days is cleaning out all the planters and getting them ready to replant. Sadly, I lost all my plants over the winter, basically from neglect because I was crippled up and couldn’t keep up with them. So, I’m going to prepare for a fresh start. Empty the old soil from the pots, clean them up, make ready for new soil and plants.
I’m also looking up videos about singing lessons and trying to recover my singing voice.
No construction or heavy work necessary, see? 🙂
So find a project, give yourself something to work toward and then go do it! The focus of working on it will serve as a distraction from worries and stress. The completion will leave a sense of achievement. All of these are great ways to avoid falling into depression and keep your mind healthy while things are crazy.
Kambry Ellis 