The COVID-19
crisis has brought the whole world to a standstill. First off, it has posed a
risk to public health and lives. It has also disrupted livelihoods, jobs, businesses,
schools, social interactions, and relationships. Not only has it compromised
physical health, but it has also affected people's mental state and overall well-being.
As such, there's
a need to practice self-care, especially during this
pandemic. It is what it sounds like - looking after yourself. Sure, you must
seek help from other people and even health professionals when feeling unwell.
However, you can take crucial steps to foster your health and wellness. As they say, an ounce of
prevention is always better than a pound of cure.
Once you practice self-care, you can cope with this pandemic and even rise above this crisis. When you take good care of yourself, you can also care for others like your family. That said, here's how to practice self-care in the new normal:
1. Set health routines in place
Pre-pandemic, it
was easy to take your health for granted. But even with or without a crisis,
you must strive to live a healthy lifestyle. It's a crucial part of your
self-care practices for fostering overall health and well-being. That said,
start by setting health routines in place. Go back to the basics by following
the steps below:
- Proper nutrition: Opt for healthy foods such as vegetables, legumes, nuts, and
seeds. Go for lean meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. However, limit
your sugar, salt, and fats consumption.
- Enough hydration: Make sure to meet your daily fluid intake: 3.7 liters for men
and 2.7 liters for women. But the best course of action is to drink plenty
of water every day.
- Physical activeness: Stay as physically active as possible. Sure, you may hit the
gym and work out regularly. However, you can perform other physical
activities like walking, jogging, doing household chores, or playing
sports.
- Ample sleep: Be sure to get the required hours of sleep at night. Follow the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. However, strive to
achieve a restful and restorative slumber.
2. Follow health and safety
measures
There are no
signs of stopping yet for the COVID-19 crisis. Sure, the pandemic restrictions
might have slowed down due to the mass vaccination. However, continue to
observe health and safety protocols. Follow the CDC recommendations for protecting yourself
and others:
- Ensure complete vaccination
- Regular hand-washing
- Frequent hand-sanitizing
- Have regular cleaning and
disinfecting
- Monitor your health
When going
outdoors, continue to observe the following:
- Wear a face mask
- Maintain social distancing
- Avoid crowded places
- Never go out and isolate yourself
if you have COVID-19 symptoms
3. Foster proper hygiene
Cleanliness is
key to combatting the various strains of the novel coronavirus. Your goal is to
keep yourself free of the COVID-19. For this reason, you must always have
proper hygiene. Be sure to have regular hand-washing or hand-sanitizing. Also,
cover your mouth when coughing and nose when sneezing. Most importantly, take a
bath regularly, especially after going outdoors.
Understand,
however, that there's a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. While cleaning can
only remove the germs on surfaces, disinfecting can kill these germs. Hence,
make sure to both clean and disinfect your house regularly. That way, you can
keep your home free from the novel coronavirus.
4. Maintain open communication
and constant interaction
It's easy to
isolate yourself amid the COVID-19 crisis. Authorities have forced individuals
and families to stay at home. While adults have been working from home, children have resorted to online education. Unfortunately, many have
compromised their communication and social interaction with friends and
colleagues.
It's good that
the pandemic restrictions have now subsided, and vaccinated individuals have
started going outdoors. But while the crisis isn't yet over, maintain an open
line of communication with your family and core group. Also, continue to mingle
with your peers and colleagues via social media or other digital platforms.
Ultimately, doing so must be a part of your self-care practices for maintaining
your sanity amid the crisis.
5. Have a 'me' time
The last is to
have time for yourself amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, having 'me time'
is a part of the overall self-care equation. Don't revolve your life around
work and get overwhelmed by the pandemic. Allow yourself to breathe, relax, and
enjoy from time to time.
First, be sure
to pursue your hobbies and interests. These include cooking and baking, making
arts and crafts, or doing home gardening or outdoor landscaping. Second, you
must find time to pamper yourself. For instance, visit a trusted aesthetic clinic for your
skincare or have a massage in your favorite spa. Lastly, don't forget to unwind
by watching movies, listening to music, and doing nothing at all.
At this point,
you now know how to take good care of yourself in the new normal. Consider the
self-care tips recommended above, from setting health routines to maintaining
open communication and constant interaction to having a 'me' time. Your goal
isn't only to keep yourself free from the COVID-19 infection. You are looking
to foster your overall health and well-being. That way, you can take care of
others too, especially your family.
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