What is self-care?
Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it’s a simple concept, in theory, it’s something we very often overlook. Good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety. Taking time out to care for yourself can remind you and others that you and your needs are important, too. Having a well-cared-for body can make you feel good about yourself and your life, and conveys to others that you value yourself. This can contribute to long-term feelings of well-being.

The 3 steps to get started with your self-care plan:

• Stay with The Basics: You will find what works best for you with time and adopt new ways of self-care that satisfy your needs
• Don’t be afraid of trying something new. Barriers you created as a child may not be there anymore. Be careful – you might surprise yourself!
• Plan Ahead: Try to avoid self-care that randomly occurs. Instead, make a brief list of what you would like to do – and stick to it!

Here are some self-care reminders for you:
Maintain a routine
You still need eight hours of good sleep, preferably at the same time as before the lockdown began, and you still need some daily exercise too. Your lifestyle can have a huge impact on your overall health – so don’t make drastic changes in it if you can help it.

Express gratitude
It’s very simple – take out a few minutes to look around you and appreciate the things you are grateful for.

Organize your mind
Manage a diary or a to-do list to jot down all your tasks and chores so you have everything in one place and plan your day more efficiently.

Stay connected
Loneliness is one of the biggest concerns of the lockdown. It can lead to many mental and even physical problems. Call up a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while and stay in touch with your family members – we need to be able to lean on each other for emotional support.

Take a break
Too much stress can make you feel easily irritated, which would bring you down and make you less productive eventually. A few regular breaks from your chores can help you hit refresh and come back to your tasks with a more positive approach. You can even try meditation or breathing exercises during these breaks to improve your mental health.

Here are some of my favorite ideas:
– Read a book
– Put Your Favorite Song On Repeat
– Write Down Your Thoughts And Feelings
– Go out for a nature walk

Let’s enjoy the sunshine. Let’s take good care of ourselves.
Thinking positive is a daily muscle we need to work on.

We are in this together:)

Love and light
Manali