It’s been more than a month since the movement control order was implemented. 

As humans, we all crave for a balance in life. To suddenly disconnect physically from friends and for some, disconnect from family, can feel lonely. Those who are working from home may feel drained from not having a personal space. Your home has now become your office and with all the time you have, you could easily be overworking yourself. 

All of these can seem disorienting and heavy. Though, on the bright side, we are also adaptable creatures. After all, in these circumstances, being able to stay home and stay safe from the pandemic is truly a privilege. In fact, now is the best moment to spend time for yourself, to find yourself once again without all the hustle and bustle of life.

I took the time to find myself and recenter my well-being during this period with some self-care routines. Anytime, whenever you feel overwhelmed, I hope you too will give yourself permission and take the time to recenter yourself with some of these self-care practices:

1. Declutter your space

Ever felt like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders whenever you clear your desks or clean your home? That’s because by clearing things out, you’ve made more space for yourself. Better things can only fill your life when you decide to clear away things you no longer need.

2. Stay active

It’s extremely easy to fall into a slump and get lazy during this period of comfort at home. It definitely takes a lot of determination but no one is responsible for your life, except you. Allocate some time of the day to workout if you feel stressed out. A 15-20 minutes workout can make a whole lot of difference to how your day goes.

Not sure where to start? Check out one of the channels that I follow and usually has all the workouts I need – Fitness Blender

3. Meditate

Meditation has been a long time known therapeutic and calming practice throughout the years. This art of mindfulness and silencing the mind has been one of my favourite to rejuvenate the mind and body. All you’ll need is a quiet and comfortable spot in your home and some time for yourself.

For first-timers, here are some of the guided meditations which I personally enjoy listening to while meditating:
– Miracle Morning Meditation
– 6 Minute Daily Visualisation
– Abundance Meditation

4. Self-reflect through journaling

Journaling is a great way to reflect about oneself. As an introvert, I enjoy writing. Writing has enabled me to express my inner thoughts and find words for things I could not express verbally. Hence, I’ve found comfort in writing about all the good and bad things, even in the form of jotted notes. 

However, journaling doesn’t necessarily just mean writing, it could also be in the form of doodles, drawing and sketches. The important essence of journaling is that it helps us make sense of what we are thinking and keep track of our life progressions.

5. Learn something new

If you have ample of time now, why not spend it to pick up a new skill? Or brush up on a hobby that you have long forgotten? It’s never too late to learn. Be curious and you’ll find yourself amazed at discovering something you never thought you could do.

Here’s a checklist of things you can experiment with at home:
– Learn a new language
– Cook up that recipe you’ve always wanted to try
– Play an instrument or sing if you like
– Create Zentangle art
– Start your own mini garden
– Practice some new and healthy habits in your lifestyle (time management, healthy-eating, etc.)

6. Relax and pamper yourself

You may be spending more time with your digital devices during this time, scrolling more often than before. Remember, to occasionally go on a digital detox and put your devices down for several hours each day. 

Spend your time to:
– Indulge in a good meal
– Look after your personal hygiene and skin care
– Take a nice warm bath to help soothe any tiredness in your body and freshen up
– Play your favourite songs
– Relax and unwind with instrumentals or calming apps (My personal favourite: Sleepa)

This is the best time to put in some of that self-care session you have been putting off. Set your priorities and take the time to look after yourself during this period just because you deserve it.

7. Read a book

Do you have a book that has been sitting on its shelf, unread? Pick up that book and have fun getting lost in its stories. Don’t fancy stories? Well then, there are plenty of other genres that you can read and learn a thing or two from.

8. Trust and let life flow

If there are some days when you feel like doing nothing, know that it is okay and absolutely normal. Take that break your body needs. The best version of yourself comes only when you care for your body, mind and soul.

It may take some time to adjust but I believe you’ll get there! We’ll all get there! ❤️