Anyone else overwhelmed by all of the self-care talk right now?
Coming from a huge self-care advocate, that may seem counter-intuitive; but really, there is just so much information. As I started to write this post, I Googled “self-care”; and I got ‘About 2,900,000,000 results’.

This is your reminder that self-care isn’t just one more thing to add to your plate or something else you need to get really good at. (I just ended that sentence with a preposition, and it’s going to bother me for days.) Your self-care practice should bring you joy! Let’s shift from “I have to…” or even “I need to…” to “I GET TO take care of myself! I get to make sure I am my very best self for my friends, my family, and my purpose.”

I’m going to give you a few ideas for #quarantineselfcare; but please know this is from a place of knowing that daily self-care is healing, calming, and well, necessary. Your self-care practice isn’t a competition. It’s not for anyone else. It is yours, and it is for you.

Ok, here we go; here are (5) quarantine self-care tips you can implement today:

1. Talk to someone about your quarantine feelings. I was part of a Zoom call today where we broke down how we were feeling with all that is currently going on. We seemed to all feel similar feelings: confusion, loss of control, fear of the unknown. But you know what? I feel better, because a) I talked-it-out and b) it feels really good to know I’m not alone in my feelings.There are so many feelings around what is happening – they’re valid. Let them out, talk about them!
   (Speaking of feelings… it’s totally OK to be good one day and unsettled the next. This is unprecedented, and you’re likely to experience more highs & lows than usual. You are not alone!)
2. Have something in your day that is routine. Routine grounds us, and the familiar is often comforting. This can be a routine you had before quarantine, or it can be something new.
   I’m trying to stick to my before-quarantine morning routine: I’m up {at least} an hour before everyone in the house, I move my body for 30 minutes, practice gratitude, and pray/meditate. I had high hopes of getting ready every day; but well, that depends on my mood!
3. Practice gratitude. What you look for, you will find. When you look for negativity, you’re going to find it (not that need any help with that right now). On the flip side, when you look for positive things, you’ll find those, too! Grab a notebook and write down 5 things you’re thankful for that happened within the last 24 hours. When you begin to do this daily, you’ll subconsciously look for things to write down.
4. Sleep. This is not a “you need to sleep more” (or less) suggestion. This is actually a bit of education. We all have an internal clock (our circadian rhythm). Keeping our internal clock consistent helps reduce irritability. drowsiness, mood swings, headaches, and memory issues. People who do not have a consistent sleep schedule often do not get the deep sleep they need to restore their bodies. Deep sleep restores our energy, regenerates our cells, repairs our muscles, and boosts our immune system.
   So when it comes to sleep, it’s much more than making sure you get enough hours in – it’s the consistency in which you get those hours. Sleeping in on the weekend is a luxury, something so many people do… but it kicks our internal clock’s ass.
5. Guard your Social Media/Online time. When COVID-19 first hit us here in Minnesota, I downloaded an app that gave close to real-life updates. I checked numbers and read articles like it was my job. It was almost like I couldn’t help myself. Prior to this situation, I had started to be very protective of my energy – who received my energy and whose energy I let affect me. This is a daily battle; but I was getting the hang of things. Enter COVID-19. Political aspects. Opinions of friends. Fake news? Ok, I’m out. I cannot do this anymore.
   I am back to protecting my energy. I need positivity and action right now; these are the things that move me forward. Am I burying my head in the sand? Absolutely not. I’m FILTERING what I see, as much as I can. I’ve unfollowed accounts that bring me down. I’ve weeded-out some news sources that are obviously in the game of spreading fear.

My self-care during quarantine certainly looks different. I don’t know that we will ever “go back” to what we had before; this is a life-altering deal for humanity.

What I do know: I’ve still got to take care of me, so I can be at my best for whatever is on the other side of this.

Grab your *free* self-care tracker here!