How's Your Mental Health Handling The Quarantine?
I've said it before and I'll probably end up saying it again: everyone has a mental health.
That means you--the person reading this--has a mental health. You don't have to have a mental illness or struggle with mental health concerns like depression or anxiety to learn about mental health, or even consider it as a topic. It just is. The same as physical health.
And here's the thing. . .maybe you haven't struggled a lot with your mental health in the past but in our current present, we are experiencing something we have never experienced before. It's okay if you're feeling emotions you don't understand or ones that make you feel uncomfortable. Then again, maybe these emotions aren't all that new to you, but chances are they're still hard to process. Hear me when I say, "I get it!" I've been dealing with mental health struggles long enough to realize that our environment has one of the biggest impacts on our mental health. I also know that mindset matters. A positive mindset doesn't just happen. We have to consistently work at it every day, especially those of us who haven't always lived our lives in the state of positivity.
That's why I want to share some tips with you that I use to help me practice self-care because this is a crucial time when I believe we all should be practicing self-care, and hopefully, you can learn some tricks that you can continue using even when we're not experiencing a global pandemic. Please also remember that self-care looks different for everyone--just because it works for me, doesn't mean it will work for you. That's okay! I am going to be listing a few below, so I hope at lease one of them will resonate with you and encourage you to keep learning about yourself and finding what works for you!
SELF-CARE PRACTICES:
1. Skincare
At this point if you follow me on Instagram, you know by now that I am obsessed with skincare! I've been "perfecting" my skincare routine since I was in high school, but as I aged and as a former self-harmer, skincare took on a new meaning for me. I've found skincare to be helpful in teaching me how to be kinder to my skin and overall body. That is why it means so much to me, and personally it makes me feel good on the inside knowing I can be gentle and caring to the outside. Plus, I think we can all agree it feels much better to be in skin we prioritize, love, and nourish.
Face Masks
I love face masks! My favorite is a good dead sea mask, but I am also a fan of charcoal scrubs, Sukin Purifying Mask, and Lush's Mask of Magnanimity.
NxN Beauty
I've been using NxN Beauty's Total Moisture kit for a little over two years now. I have extremely dry skin, and these products have worked absolute wonders for my skin. They also have kits for oily/combination and acne-prone skin as well as several other products, including ones that are infused with CBD oils. Plus, here's a little fun tip: use "CAYSEALE" to get 35% off your first order!
Link: https://www.nxnbeauty.com/
Sukin
Other products I use daily include the Sukin Micellar Water and the Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner. If I am being completely honest, I am not wearing a lot of makeup during quarantine so haven't needed the micellar water as much. The toner on the other hand. . .I use that daily! I do a few sprits in the morning and few at night before putting on my moisturizer.
Link: https://sukinnaturals.com/
*I am working towards using all vegetarian/vegan and cruelty-free products.
2. Journaling
Personal Journal
I've been journaling for as long as I can remember. Yes, that means at one point in time I wrote "Dear Diary" to start my stories (HA!). I don't do that now, but hey, I won't judge if you do. I look at my journals like prayer to be honest--it's an outlet that allows me to get out everything I've been bottling up inside my mind. While I love having my therapist and while I am grateful I have a husband to talk to, I still have thoughts and feelings that can be hard to say out loud to another human being. A personal journal allows me to still express myself, even when I am not ready to share those feelings with others. As they say, it's better out than in.
Personally, I am a big fan of journals from Target, but of course, you can get your's anywhere!
Link: https://www.target.com/c/notebooks-school-office-supplies/-/N-5xsxm?Nao=48
Start Today Journal
Another form of journaling I do is the Start Today journal. This is a daily practice created by Rachel Hollis, and no, this is in no way sponsored. I am simply sharing because it has done wonders for my mindset. Each day, I start by listing 5 things I am grateful for, 10 dreams I made happen (you write them in past tense because it's more likely you will achieve them if you write them down as if you already have), and 1 goal I am going to achieve first. This practice helps us as humans learn to show gratitude and create focus for the day(s) ahead. It's important to note that I bought the Start Today journal, but you can do this practice without having the specific journal. There are also other brands of gratitude and goal-oriented journaling, but this one is my personal favorite!
Link: https://thehollisco.com/collections/shop
3. Smells + Scents
So here's the thing, I am not here to sell you on the wonders of oils. I am here to say that I believe scents and smells can make a difference. Personally, one of my favorite smells in this world is lavender, which I didn't even know until I received a lavender candle one year on my birthday. That candle was like some serious magic, my friend! Whether I was having the worst day ever, struggling with severe anxiety, or just feeling low, I would burn that candle and begin to feel at ease. I can't truly explain it (other than I believe God was somehow in the midst), but it changed my life. . .and how I view the importance of smell.
Now, lavender may not be your thing, but I have a feeling something is. There are all sorts of smells that help me; I would just say lavender helps the most. Plus, I would note that "smelling things" doesn't solve all the problems. For me, I like to burn candles and use body washes/bubble baths containing oils as a way to relax or wind down from my day.
Link (to similar candle): https://www.target.com/p/jar-candle-serenity-calm-mind-and-body-by-chesapeake-bay-candle/-/A-54004124?preselect=53439952#lnk=sametab
4. Prayer/Meditation
I recognize we are all different people who may be of different religious practices, so this one is definitely unique to the individual. Personally, I have done both--I've prayed and meditated, and honestly, I believe these two can coexist.
I'm a Christian who prays daily. I try to pray on my hands and knees at least once a day (in the morning or at night). When I was going to work in an office, I would pray on my drive to work. It was a great way to clear my mind and create a good headspace before the busy day ahead. Since quarantine, I often pray in the shower or find somewhere quiet in my apartment to spend time with God (this may consist of prayer along with reading my devotional, reading my bible, or journaling).
Over the last couple of years, I've also practiced yoga and looked into apps that help with guided meditation. One of my favorite apps for guided meditation is Headspace, which gives you a 7-day free trial and then a small monthly fee. The fee is not bad at all, and in my opinion is worth it if meditation is something you are seriously interested in learning.
I believe our physical, mental, and spiritual healths are all connected, and these are great practices to help benefit all three areas!
5. Painting / Something Crafty
I enjoy painting because it's an outlet where I can be creative and physically present. I enjoy moving my hands with different strokes, from paint to canvas, and so on. But painting isn't for everyone. I know this, and that's why it led me to think deeper about why I like painting. I think there are similar activities people can do to receive the same sense of joy, peace, and even focus that I get our of painting. This can include things like crocheting, hand stitching, scrap booking, and probably more that I am not even thinking about right now. I would consider doing some research or simply just trying something new. You might surprise yourself!
Because it is just a hobby for me, I usually buy inexpensive canvases and paint at Walmart - https://www.walmart.com/cp/5899871?povid=5899871+%7C+2018-11-15+%7C+flyout
Other stores to consider: Michael's, JoAnn, Hobby Lobby, Target
These are my top five when it comes to self-care, and I've been practicing them frequently during this quarantine. I hope you find this helpful! Whether all of these practices work for you or just one, I hope this encourages you to think more about how you are taking care of yourself and maintaining a healthy mind and positive mindset. Of course, there's still a big world out there and we will return to it eventually. I want us all to be at our best when we do! Use this time to learn, feel what you need to, and grow.
Also, if you have any questions about self care or just need a friend to talk to, you can shoot me an email under the "Contact" tab or send me a Direct Message on Instagram! Remember, we're all in this together. :)
