Living in such a chaotic time can weigh on your mental and physical health. Practicing self-care at any capacity in your daily life during a pandemic can help achieve some much needed relaxation and relief. Although building a new healthy habit or routine can be difficult, starting small and easing your way into a self-caring lifestyle will help you mentally and physically during a time of stress. Getting Enough Sleep Getting your 8 hours of sleep each night will help improve your mood and immune system. Try to stick to a consistent bedtime and wake-up time so that you can start a sleep routine that works for you. Try to minimise your screen time before going to bed and when waking up. Consider limiting how long and what times of day you are scrolling through your social media feeds. Doing so will help improve your mental health, sleep, and productivity. For something extra to aid in your night-time relaxation, try essential oils or an audiobook before bed. Physical Exercise Physical exercise has huge benefits for both our mood and wellbeing. Simply taking a stroll in the fresh air can sharpen your focus and aid your sleep. Try mixing things up by doing a workout you have never done before like yoga or boxing. There is an abundance of videos and apps that can help motivate you to move. A few apps we have been using are: Centr >> https://centr.com/join-us FiiT >> https://fiit.tv/ MyFittnessPal >> https://www.myfitnesspal.com/ Healthy Diet It is easy to slip into an unhealthy diet when at home and food surrounds you. Try to start simply by staying on top of your coffee intake, avoid mindless snacking and drink a lot of water. Some foods such as avocado, dark chocolate, bananas, oranges and leafy greens have stress-lowering effects on the body and mind. Make sure along the way you are treating yourself to your favourite take-out, just not every night. This not only helps support local businesses but will keep you happy and gives you a treat to look forward to during the week. Work on Your Breathing Try a meditation break, chilled-out music, or an audiobook for at least 15 minutes each day. Mindful breathing helps regulate your body’s reaction to stress. Mindful breathing is simply taking the time to focus and become aware of your breath and how it moves in and out of your body. Read more tips in our blog about Mediation, Mindfulness, and Staying Positive. Start a New Hobby Starting a new hobby will keep your mind engaged and challenged. Some ideas could be cooking, reading, creative writing, gardening, or learning something new like a language. Participating in something productive will help relieve stress and provide a social outlet. Taking out time in your day to focus on something you enjoy will give you a happiness boost helping you to come back to work refocused. Self-Care Products Invest in some self-care products that your body will thank you for. Essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, and cedarwood can help reduce stress and calm the mind. Try giving yourself a facial, your skin will thank you for it. Head online and invest in men’s self-grooming products this could be a hair trimming kit or simply new soap. Grooming is a quick win for making you feel confident and ready to take on the world. Knowing your signs of stress and learning how to respond to them can prevent you from getting into habits that lead you to feel unwell. Remember to always call a friend or family member and check-in. If you are feeling unwell make sure to schedule a doctor’s appointment to keep on top of your mental health. Other blogs that you may like from us are: How to support your local community right now Tips on staying connected from home How to stay motivated when working from home