Self-Care during a Pandemic
Since the world-wide spread of COVID-19 from early 2020, most of the world (the intelligent places) have been on a nation-wide lockdown. We’ve been restricted in ways that we have never been in the history of my existence; so deeply that even a walk in the local park is questionable for some people. Now with a new strain of COVID-19 surfacing the air, this may only elongate how long we will be inside of our homes, or social distancing outside. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to serve you with a bowl of pessimism, but only bring about the reality that we face today. With this still a factor in our lives (being that we are still in the early phases of the vaccination rollout), I believe it is safe to assume that we will be spending more time indoors. So what does this mean for our overall fitness?
I personally have found this Quarantine era to be very unmotivating, stressful, and just downright depressing. When I began my fitness journey 5 years ago, my reason behind starting pretty cliche. This meaning that I wanted to be as fine as humanly possible and off-set the old folk-tale of “you know that will all catch up to you one-day”. I can admit, I was superficial about my reason why initially. However, as I grew in my fitness journey I found working out and eating right to be more than a way of looking good, but I noticed how it helped me with improving my overall moods and managing my anger and irritability. So once we were all slapped in the face with the Quarantine era, I found myself in a complex situation. The gyms were shutting down, the parks had closed for a while, we were all locked inside of our homes living in suspense due to a virus that, well, there just isn’t enough research available.
Again, what does this mean for our overall fitness? Well, I think its important to note that fitness is not just a physical thing, but your mental health is equally as important (sometimes more, arguably, the mind is the most powerful piece of you after all). With this being said, I want to share a few ways to take care of yourself during this time that I have found work for me.
Here are some Quarantine Health Gems…
Limit how much time you spend on social media. - Social Media is a great way to stay in touch with people and to market your brands; however, depending on how you use it, social media can be detrimental to your mental health. Although you can unfollow accounts that do not promote good health and energy in your life, you cannot control the content that other posts or the content that these platforms boost on the explore page. If you aren’t using Social Media to promote your brand or to educate yourself in some way, you are wasting your time and over-stimulating your mind with things that serve you no true purpose. By limiting your time on social media, you have more time to do the things that really matter and that are productive to yourself.
Pick up a new skill - You are more than capable of picking up the skills needed to perform the things that you’ve always wanted to learn how to do. If you have an interest in making music, dedicate more time to this. If you’ve always wanted to learn to play an instrument or learn how to code websites, get started now. When we pick up new skills not only are we distracting ourselves from the outside noise, but we are continuously shaping ourselves which in return gives us things to feel proud of and new challenges to be constantly stimulated by. In addition to this, you are also growing who you are as a person. When this pandemic is over, people will have to re-learn you all over again! You are the author of your story and the artist of your life, do something beautiful with it.
Show Gratitude - Showing gratitude is a great way to keep yourself grounded when it comes to your emotions. When we tend to look at the cup as half empty rather than half full we tend to get lost in seas of pessimism, and this thinking is dangerous to your spirit. To work on your gratitude, you can try writing down the things you are thankful for each morning to start. This only takes a few minutes to do each day, and the return on this self-investment will be life-changing in the long-run.
Spend time in nature - There is nothing wrong with going on a nice secluded walk or waking up early to beat the foot traffic at your local trail. Spending time in nature is scientifically proven to help improve your mood and levels of energy. Depending on how spiritual you are, it’s a great way to connect to a higher power. There’s something about the simplicities of life that become medicine to our souls.
Rest (when needed)- Even I have to learn to do this. The closest people in my life tend to call me things like a “work-horse” or the “energizer bunny” to say the least. I always feel like I have to be productive and have to be busy, or I’m not doing life right. Well, sometimes your mind and your body are calling you to relax. To take it easy, listen to some music, lay down, and rest. Dedicate time throughout your week to relax in your favorite ways; whether this is taking a nice bubble bath, listening to one of your favorite albums, watching a funny show or cartoon. Be sure to rest up, and DO NOT feel guilty about that. This only defeats the purpose.
Do NOT buy snacks during the week - Food is the fuel to your body. What have you been eating during these Quarantine times? I can admit, my diet hasn’t really been the best lately as I tend to snack when I am feeling extra comfortable. One mistake of mine that I’ve recently addressed is that I was buying snacks in bulk. This only lead to me over-eating them during the week (due to my sweet-tooth that hasn’t gone away yet, thanks, MOM - it’s her fault people). Anyways, now that I’m working from home, the kitchen is only a few steps away which means I need to be extra cautious about the groceries I buy. Here’s some advice that I’ve implemented lately, do NOT buy yourself junk-food if you’re looking to improve your diet. The best way to prevent this temptation is to keep it out of your cabinets!
Workout twice a week - It’s important to not neglect your physical health during times like these, where laying down on the couch and watching a marathon might seem like the more appealing option. Although the gyms are shut down, there’s no excuse to neglect your physical health. With millions of workout videos available online, free resources, and sidewalks, there’s no excuse to not get up and get moving. Throw a few time blocks in your calendar dedicated to working out and commit to your schedule!
Find an online workout class to join - If you aren’t a fan of working out alone or find that you are more motivated in workout classes, don’t fret. There are thousands of virtual classes that you can join for the motivation and collaboration you need. This makes for the perfect way of staying social and safe during Quarantine as well as providing you with a little bit of the accountability you might need. Once you get to know others in the group, it becomes something you look forward to attending. ( P.S Ladies - I am now offering FREE virtual workout classes! If this is something that you are interested in, reach out to me on any of my social platforms @wusufit )
Quarantine has been a very challenging time for most of us. Just remember that you aren’t alone. It’s important to put yourself first during times like this and to continue to show yourself love, patience, and discipline.
Wishing you safety and health during this time.
Keara
P.S Happy Black History Month!
