20 Self-Care Ideas While Social Distancing

20 Self-Care Ideas While Social Distancing

In my last blog post I provided you with tips on how to navigate emotional eating while staying safe at home. Now that you’ve structured your day based on your meal and snack times, have taken the shackles of restrictive eating off, and are enjoying a variety of foods without guilt; what do you do with all that free time? Whether or not you are working from home, it’s important for you to break up your day with activities you enjoy.

Here are 20 self-care ideas that you can implement into your routine to help you stay safe and sane while social distancing!

1. Make a list of things you used to enjoy doing and start crossing them off!

2. Read that book you bought months ago and never got around to reading

3. Paint your nails or try experimenting with new nail art designs

4. Participate in joyful movement!

   • Tend to your home garden, pull weeds, water the plants, etc. 

   • Watch a fun dance video online. The Fitness Marshall on Youtube has great choreographed dances that he teaches you step-by-step and can be modified based on your abilities. 

     • Ask your friends to watch and learn the same dance video and have a virtual dance recital.

   • Try fun workout videos on YouTube

     • Yoga with Adrien

     • Blogilates

     • FitnessBlender

     • PopSugar Fitness

5. Cuddle or play with your pet in your yard or home. You can try to teach them new tricks or just relax and enjoy their company!

6. Deepen your meditation practice, participate in faith-based prayer, or start a gratitude journal

7. Take a relaxing bath. Since you have time to spare, go all out and light some candles for some soothing aromatherapy.

8. Challenge your brain with a jigsaw or crossword puzzle

9. Download a fun new game on your phone or computer and interact with players virtually

10. Arts n’ crafts aren’t just for kids! Painting, drawing, or molding can be a relaxing craft to practice 

11. Get creative and write your friends greeting cards or get a head start on DIY holiday cards

12. Practice your cooking and baking skills

13. Make your own at-home mask with plain yogurt and haldi (turmeric) (be cautious with haldi, it can stain or tint your skin temporarily and anything it comes in contact with)

14. Get organized! 

    • Donate clothes that no longer serve you

    • Clean out your pantry and organize it to reduce food waste and overspending on groceries

    • Check out my Quarantine Survival Grocery List before you go shopping again

15. Get busy with household chores! These can be fun when done with music or video chatting with friends or family

16. Catch up on sleep! Your body and nervous system are going through a lot right now. Rest is just as important as any other activity! 

17. Watch all the shows you’ve been wanting to enjoy

18. Call or video chat with a friend or family member. Schedule mealtimes with them so you don’t have to eat alone. 

19. Give your hair a break with a little thel (hair oil) deep conditioning 

20. Book a telehealth session with your registered dietitian!

Let me know which self-care activities you enjoy in the comments section below! I’m here to support you any way I can during this difficult time. I offer a free 15-minute discovery call to help you learn how to find balance with food and nutrition without rigid diets, stress, or guilt.