How I’m practicing self care at home

I think we all need a little TLC right now.

It’s really hard to be at home right now.  Even though I consider myself an introvert and a total homebody, I’m struggling with quarantine life. I know we’re slowly reopening stores, restaurants, etc., but I still spend a lot of time at home. It’s weird having so much down time. I’ve done all the popular quarantine activities like baking, cleaning, and organizing my house. I finally packed away my winter clothes and pulled my summer clothes out of storage. And I’m all caught up on my favourite TV shows. I’m currently watching The Bold Type and rewatching Gossip Girl episodes on Netflix, if you’re curious. And I’ve taken a lot of afternoon naps — just because I can. We’re about to hit the four-month mark since the quarantine started in Toronto, and it’s been an emotional roller coaster to say the least.

I’m fortunate enough to be able to work from home, but I really miss being able to hang out in downtown when I’m not working. So, I came up with a short list of things I’ve been doing to keep busy and practice self care at the same time.

Get cozy and actually relax

It’s easier said than done, I know. I think we’re all so used to being busy that the idea of pressing pause is kind of intimidating. I’ve been channeling my energy into random hobbies that I enjoy. They’re lowkey activities that are productive, but also very relaxing for me. I decided to revamp my bedroom, because I spend a lot of my time in there and I love decorating things. I like to paint my nails, a lot. It’s very relaxing, and I’ve added some really nice summer shades to my collection. I’ve also been ordering plants online. There’s a plant shop in Toronto called Jomo Studio that has a wide and affordable selection of plants, and I’ve added eight new plants to my bedroom alone. It was a great way to add some greenery to my space, and they’re so low maintenance. I haven’t killed any yet.

Stay hydrated

The first few weeks of quarantine were stressful, and it was starting to show in my sleeping pattern, my eating habits, and most especially my skin. I normally have clear skin minus a bit of hormonal acne around my chin and jaw, but I was breaking out all over my face. I started using acne patches, which were a life saver, but I knew those were a temporary fix. I decided to I’d challenge myself to drink more water in hopes of clearing up my skin.

Turns out water is the greatest skincare ingredient. I bought a huge 40-ounce water bottle and drank about three full bottles a day. Yes, I went to the bathroom a lot. But it was totally worth it. After a couple of weeks I could see the difference in my skin. It was smoother, more hydrated, and free of those dreadful stress pimples that were making me stress out even more. I even noticed that the circles under my eyes weren’t as dark. I’m trying to keep it up. And now that it’s so hot outside, I think it’ll be pretty easy.

Get some fresh air and get moving

I’ve already admitted to being a homebody. A global pandemic has nothing to do with my desire to stay home all the time. But now that I am home more often, I try to spend a bit of time outside each day. Sometimes I’ll chill on my porch with my sister, or I’ll go for a short walk around my neighbourhood. Now that summer is in full swing, I’m excited to spend more time in my backyard, and I’ve even challenged myself to actually start gardening. And if I’m not outside, then I try to spend some time in evening doing yoga in my bedroom. I find it so relaxing, especially after working on a computer all day.

Face masks and chill

Last, but certainly not least, is one of my favourite ways to destress. There’s something relaxing about applying a face mask that I find super relaxing. It feels luxurious, but it’s also really good for my skin. My skincare routine has been very simple since I’m home all the time, but I still find about twenty minutes every couple of days to put on a mask.

I’ve been using a combination of different masks. Sometimes I’ll put on a clay mask like the Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Mask, or an exfoliating mask like Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask, and sometimes I use sheet masks like the Garnier Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask or Rodial Vitamin C Face Mask. But, I’ve also been trying out a bunch of new masks for my hands and feet, which was equal parts weird and fun. I’ll probably post about my those experiences in the future.

 

How are you practicing self care? How are you keeping busy while social distancing? Tell me in the comments?