14 Ways To Do Self-Care During Local Lockdowns

Hey lovelies, as the Coronavirus crisis rumbles on, many areas are going back into local lockdown, and the threat of a second lockdown for the whole country is looming. Anxiety is high for many people, and you might have found you’ve fallen out of your good self-care and self-love habits. Emotional and mental health are important. If you’re finding things hard at the moment, remember that you’re not alone, and there are some self-care tips you can try to make yourself feel a little better and less anxious. 

Give yourself a pedicure or a manicure

Even if nobody else is going to see it, taking the time for body care like this is a great way to do something nice for yourself. Take your time. Soak your feet. Pamper your hands with a great moisturiser. Put on a favourite show and take ages to paint your nails in a bright, cheerful colour that makes you smile when you look at it. 

Read a book or a magazine

If you’ve been hit by a local lockdown and have more time on your hands, take advantage of it. Many of us struggle to find much time to read, so do it now. Whether you return to an old favourite, finally make a dent in your to-read pile, or just flip through a magazine, reading can be a good way to quiet an anxious mind. 

Sit on the front porch

If you’re not able to get out porch, you’ll be missing out on sunlight and fresh air. Sunlight is important, as it’s where we get most of our Vitamin D. A lack of vitamin D can lead to more feelings of anxiety. Get some daylight by sitting out on your front porch or front step. Even if the weather is chilly, wrap up warm and take a warm cup of coffee out with you, and just watch the world go by for  a little while. 

Take a bubble bath

As the days get shorter, we’ll all be inside more in the evenings. Use that time for a real pampering with a good soak in a bubble bath. Go all out, and load it up with lots of great-smelling bubbles. Light candles in soothing scents. Play relaxing music, or take a magazine in. If you’re careful, you could balance your phone somewhere so you can watch Netlfix while you soak. 

Buy a bouquet of fresh flowers.

While you’re out buying essentials, pick up a present for yourself in the form of pretty flowers. Flowers brighten up a room and should make you smile when you see them.

Binge watch without guilt

Where else do you need to be after all? Rewatch a favourite, start something new, or indulge in some guilty-pleasure viewing. Extra points if you watch with a lot of delicious snacks. 

Take a nap

Anxiety can make it hard to sleep. If you’re struggling to drop off at night because of worry, and you’re tired during the day, let yourself take a nap. You’ll have more energy which will you help face your stress. Just be sure not to nap for too long, or you still won’t be able to sleep at night. 

Do something crafty

Craft is fantastic for anxiety. It works because your mind is kept busy as you focus on the craft, but not so busy that the project ends up making you more stressed out as you worry about getting it wrong. Many crafts require only a small amount of focus, so you can keep your hands busy while doing other things like watching TV, sitting on Zoom calls with friends and family, or listening to an audiobook. Try colouring, felting, knitting, crochet, or anything else that appeals to you. 

Have a dance party

if you have housemates, make a playlist together and have a dance party. You’ll feel silly, laugh a lot, and have a great time. Live alone? Even better! Line up all your favourite tracks and host your own, personal kitchen disco. 

Take a mental health day

if you’re working from home, this can be taught. With no separation between work and home, it’s easy to get sucked into always being on the clock, which is no good for anxiety. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, book a day off. Feel no guilt, and make no plans except being kind to yourself. Give your brain a break. 

Do yoga

Yoga is designed to stretch the body and quiet the mind. The focus on your breathing can help you to concentrate on something other than what you’re worrying about. The gentle movement can help to ease out the kinks you might have from working at a less than ideal desk set-up at home. 

Wear an outfit that makes you feel amazing, even if you have no reason

Not allowed to go out? Who cares? Get dressed up anyway. Embrace your inner child who loved to play dress up. Put on your fanciest dress, experiment with outfit combinations, or just put on something that always makes your feel good. Make it fun, improve your mood, and let go of needing a reason to look nice. 

Declutter a spot in your house

Does your kitchen cupboard have so much stuff in it that you can’t find anything? Is your cupboard under the stairs so full that you have to shut the door quick to prevent an avalanche? Declutter. Spend time to take everything out, sort it out, and put it back in a more organized way. You’ll get the satisfaction of tackling and completing a task, and have a much tidier space that you can use more efficiently and actually find what you need. 

Edit who you follow on social media

Go through everyone you follow. If the account doesn’t bring you joy, unfollow it. Anyone who makes you feel bad about yourself by comparison, unfollow. Anyone whose content makes you angry has to go. No more ‘hate-following’ or following because you feel obligated. Only leave accounts that make you happy to see.

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