4 Self-Care Tips For Better Mental Health At Home
“Taking care of myself doesn’t mean ‘me first.’ It means ‘me, too.” ― L.R. Knost
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in these unprecedented times.
At the beginning of this pandemic, I wrote about the importance of taking some time off to rest and indulge your inner child.
Now that we’re well into week three of quarantine, with no certain end in sight, it is imperative to introduce self-care into our lives.
Nobody knows how long this is going to last. We might as well use this time to form healthy habits, that we might come out of our homes like butterflies emerging from a chrysalis — transformed for the better.
Here are four actionable self-care tips, all of which can be practised from the safety of your homes.
1. Keep yourself well-groomed
“If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good.”
— Deion Sanders
The power of looking good should never be underestimated — even if there’s no one else around to see it.
Now, why go through the trouble of making yourself presentable when no one is around to see or judge the way you look?
The thing is you will know. And you will judge. Your opinion is what really counts.
In psychology, there’s a phenomenon called the White-Coat effect.
People subconsciously think that scientists in white lab coats are smarter and more competent than scientists with no coats, or in other clothes such as a painter’s frock.
Here’s the catch — this effect works on ourselves, too!
Studies show that if you put on a lab coat, you feel smarter and actually wind up performing better at cognitive tests.
We’ve known this in some form or another for a long time. There’s a reason why top-level executives wear well-fitted suits and police officers wear smart blue uniforms.
Wearing a uniform of sorts conveys a sense of power. To others, but more importantly, to yourself.
Our subconscious minds are tremendously powerful.
Like the best-selling author, Patrick Rothfuss said in The Name of the Wind —
“We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be.”
While you’re at home, keep yourself well-groomed.
You don’t have to do anything ridiculous like wear a three-piece suit and tie all day!
Instead, swap out your stained boxers for a clean pair of pants and shirt. Brush your teeth. Wash your face, shower often, and shave.
Remember, when you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you do good.
Your mind — and whoever you’re rooming with, will thank you.
2. Read something calming
The lockdown is the perfect time to read.
There is one caveat though — try to steer clear from reading too much negativity.
News that report the rising coronavirus death rate, for example. Consuming portents of doom and gloom 24/7 is a one-way ticket to a mental breakdown.
Instead, read something that you’ve always wanted to but kept holding off because of your busy schedule.
It can be anything you’re interested in. A glossy magazine that caught your eye, a thick novel you’ve already read five times, or even random articles on the internet.
Personally, I think there’s nothing better than a great work of fiction to transport you somewhere else, to take your ruminating mind off dreary affairs.
I’ve been on a Charles Bukowski tear recently, and it’s strange how reading about the hedonistic exploits of a certain Henry Chinaski does my mind wonders.
If you’re not into fiction, this is also a perfect time to crack open a self-help book and come out of this pandemic a better version of yourself.
While you’re home, take the time to read.
At the very least, it’ll take your mind off things. At best, reading will arm you with stories and ideas and magic, and turn you into a better person.
3. Take good care of your body
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”
— Jim Rohn
Think of this as an extension to point number one.
In line with keeping yourself well-groomed, you don’t have to train like an Olympic athlete to feel the benefits of a healthy body.
You can start off with something small, like trying out a virtual yoga session on Zoom.
Something as tiny as some daily push-ups or 10 minutes of light stretching before bed can do your body, and mind, wonders.
Or, if you’re somebody who likes to push things to the limit, being at home with nothing to do is also the perfect time to get in legitimately terrific shape.
Many people think the body and mind are disconnected when they are actually two sides of the same coin.
How your body feels affect your mind, and vice versa.
Picture this:
You’re depressed and feel terribly unmotivated and lethargic. Because of this, you languish at home, seemingly unable to get out of bed.
Your body breaks down from the lack of exercise, and before long you start to develop backaches and suffer from an increasing lack of energy — which makes you less likely to work out.
It’s a vicious cycle.
Now the opposite is also true.
If your mind is positive and strong, you spring out of bed well-rested and tackle your goals with gusto.
You have more energy, more optimism, and are more likely to take care of the vessel that you live in. Your body, in turn, rewards you with feel-good endorphins and increased energy levels.
A positive feedback loop.
While staying home, look after your body — and your mind will follow suit.
4. Write down your innermost thoughts
“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.”― Anne Frank
Lastly, I think everyone, not just writers, should have a journaling practise.
I never thought too highly of journaling in the past.
It felt too much like homework. Urgh, writing a page of reflections every night? Not for me, I thought. Journaling was only for the sensitive-types.
I was wrong.
When I finally caved and tried it, I couldn’t stop. Journaling has replaced meditation as my go-to self-care practise.
There’s something almost hypnotically soothing about putting pen on paper.
For me, writing is more cathartic than meditation because I feel a sense of productivity, of action, while I’m doing it. When the ink flows, so do my thoughts.
Most powerfully, it allows me to track my progress. Want to see how much you’ve grown over time?
Bust out your old journal entries and read them. It’s like having a conversation with a younger version of yourself.
It’s disconcertingly cool.
It drives home how strong, how resilient you really are. Reading about how you overcame your past fears and challenges makes you realize how strong, how resilient you really are.
While staying home, pick up a journaling habit.
It can be something as short as 2–3 sentences. Write down how you felt today, and what you did. Share it with others if you want. Keep it private if you like.
What matters most is you write.
Make journaling a habit, and watch your antsy mind settle down.
Your Takeaway
One last thing to note, you don’t have to bite off more than you can chew and try to incorporate all four of these practices in your life immediately.
Giving yourself stress and anxiety in a bid to practise self-care is 100% contrary to the point of this article — and deeply ironic besides!
Instead, focus on incorporating one practice at a time.
Which one among them resonates the deepest with you?
Is it writing? Or taking care of your grooming habits?
Chances are, you already know which one of these you need to introduce to your life.
Remember, your subconscious mind is far more powerful than you think!
Whichever one you pick, stick with it, and make it a habit. Once you’ve got it down pat and see the benefits that come with the practise, you’ll be more motivated to pick up the others.
This stay-home period, make self-care a priority.
You’ll come out of the quarantine a different, better person.
Thank you for reading my story. :)