Simplifying Self-care
Prioritizing yourself during a pandemic
What is self-care?
We’ve heard a lot about self-care recently, but what does it mean? It’s about putting time and care into your emotional well-being. Remember, we each have unique needs, and because of that, self-care looks different for everyone. I’m not asking you to change your lifestyle fundamentally, instead, I’m offering you a way to add simple steps to prioritize yourself.
Because most of us are stuck at home with broken routines, doing the best we can to manage it is essential to take time to do the things that you need to feel whole. For some, it’s alone time, and for others, it might be finding time to connect with a loved one.
Self-care is the hardest when you most need it. It takes effort, and when you don’t have the time or energy, it’s the last thing that you think to do.
How do I make sure to practice self-care?
Start by making a list. When you have some downtime, think of things that bring you joy or help you relax. Make sure to add activities that are easy to do and don’t take much time or effort. A favorite of mine is watching cute dog videos. These videos bring me joy and help me relax and forget about my worries. It’s so easy and enjoyable that I end up doing this every night before bed.
Some basics of self-care include:
- setting a routine (wake up and go to bed at the same time regardless of your schedule)
- eating nutritious foods
- getting adequate sleep
- moving (walk in your neighborhood or do a home workout video)
- finding an outlet to talk about your feelings (call a good friend or write in a journal)
When you’re feeling overwhelmed and realize you haven’t been putting much effort into self-care, pull out the list and do something on it. Better yet, pull that list out after dinner and see if you can do one thing on it for yourself before bedtime.
Sheela Ivlev (she/her) is a Bengali American Occupational Therapist, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, and consultant. She is committed to removing the barriers to care that keep people from accessing appropriate health and wellness services. She is the founder of OT Bay area, WellWrx Consulting, and DisruptOT.
