By Rachelle Alcazaren, Kingston-Galloway | Outreach Worker
In the last two months, businesses have stopped running, people have stopped working, and we have all come to a standstill while waiting for this nightmare to be over. Regardless of how much time I have been spending at home, I have come to realize that even with “nothing” to do, I have become busier and busier as the months progress. I don’t know if I’m the only one feeling this way or if this experience has been the same for everyone, but as the to-do list for my job life and my home life grow - restlessness, weariness, and anxiety also grows. It just seems like everything I do now in quarantine takes a lot more effort. Grocery shopping has become a tedious task (and a battlefield!), and it takes a lot more intention and effort for me to catch up with my friends and family members who I have not seen since March. Also, I can only imagine how others feel working at home- endless zoom calls and no physical human interaction. Zoom call meetings also have a tendency to make me extremely exhausted, more so than a normal meeting would have had before Ontario went into lockdown. Being at home day after day makes me restless, and my anxiety grows as the lockdown keeps getting extended.
It’s easy to become trapped in our mundane quarantine routines, which is why it’s more important than ever to be in tune with yourself spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I am a massive supporter of self-care. I believe that taking care of yourself is necessary in boosting your confidence and self-esteem, producing positive feelings, managing your stress levels, and reminding yourself that you are important and your needs should also be met.
Physical Self-Care
Physically taking care of yourself can look like many things.
Getting a good night’s sleep and taking the time to rest
Eating healthy food that will give you energy for your day
Exercising
Going for a walk/hike and getting some fresh air outside is always nice!
Taking an online zumba or yoga class
Staying hydrated
Bubble baths!
Face masks
You’d be surprised by how nice and calm I feel after taking the time to take care of my skin!
Mental Self-Care
Doing something that you usually don’t have time to do and that you enjoy
For me this looks like reading a good book, watching a good Korean drama, and/or baking a yummy dessert. This can also look like decluttering your home, unplugging yourself from technology for a while, or a DIY home improvement project you’ve always wanted to work on. Taking care of yourself mentally looks different for everyone.
Emotional Self-Care
Writing your thoughts in a journal to relieve stress
Talking to a close friend or mentor
Having a healthy support system that loves, encourages and supports you is important!
Realizing the importance of boundaries
Sometimes other people’s problems can affect our own emotions, and in turn our lives are adversely affected. Instead of their emotions becoming our own, it is important to draw emotional boundaries so that we can be grounded and present for that person in their time of need.
Spiritual Self-Care
Sometimes when we’re busy, it’s easy to push aside our quiet time with Jesus. When we are busy we also tend to become mentally strained and tired of everything going on around us. In times like these it’s more important than ever to look to God for peace, strength, courage, love, and nourishment. When we’re weary from the situations going on in our life, pray more, get deeper into the word, practice gratitude, be more present in your church/Christian community, love others more deeply, choose joy, and most importantly rest in His ever-lasting presence and peace.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead. Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
It may seem selfish to think of yourself and to do things for your own benefit, but in reality when you’re good to yourself you have a lot more to give to others. You have a lot more compassion, resources, love, and strength for others, and to do what needs to be done. You can’t fill another person’s bucket of water if you don’t have enough water in your own, and I think that’s a really important lesson for all of us to learn.
