Being gentle with yourself in quarantine

As an avid writer, starting a blog has always been a dream of mine, but one that seemed faraway and daunting. Along with the rest of the world in quarantine, I have had ample time to sit around and reflect. Finally, I decided to go ahead and begin.

Six weeks into social distancing and adjusting to these new norms, I have some thoughts about how to make this time a little bit easier. I’m no expert, just a girl doing my best to adjust to a pandemic. I’m thankful to have a roof over my head, the ability to stay home, and a loving family.

First and foremost, I think it comes down to being gentle with yourself. There is no right way to do this. We’ve definitely developed some blanket statements about this situation. I’ve seen “we are in this together” across social media. While it is comforting that we are all in the same storm, we are all in different boats. Whether you are on the front lines, working from home, no longer working, alone, or with family, each of our stories and their implications look very different. Regardless, I’d like to say please be gentle with yourself. As someone who has struggled with anxiety most of my life, I understand that these times are adding a heavy weight to our minds. I personally am reminding myself that my emotions are valid and I need to show myself extra self-love. In this post, I’ll get into what this looks like for me. Maybe something will resonate with you to try!

My general quarantine self-care tips:

1. Listen to your body. Being easy on ourselves means not expecting to be our 100% best selves 24/7. At least for me, this expectation is unrealistic and exhausting, leading me to crash and burn. If I feel like I need a 20-minute nap and I have the time to do so, I take one! Try to find a balance between using this time to be productive and using this time to rest.
2. Find a new workout routine that is exciting for you. Exercising helps add structure to the day and is an awesome release. I’ve recently gotten into yoga sculpt at home, thanks to my sister and her roommate. I bought the home workout package at thecoastalmethod.com. It’s a mix of yoga, yoga sculpt, HIIT classes, and more. There are tons of free workout classes on YouTube. My mom has a full-body dumbbell workout that she loves. What interests you?
3. Show some extra love to those you are quarantining with and those who you miss. It feels good to express love. My friend sent me a letter and now we’re writing back and forth via snail mail, I highly recommend it! @sitwithwhit on Instagram posted this helpful table on how to communicate with our loved ones with more empathy right now. Here it is below, it is definitely worth keeping in mind-

Activities I have been keeping busy with:

1. Journaling. Aside from being an incredible outlet and escape, I think it will be interesting to have a record of your thoughts amidst quarantining to look back on.
2. Reading. I have been reading Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster and I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a genuine, funny and lighthearted self-help book. Schuster is uplifting and leaves you with a bunch of new self-care tips to try—perfect new ideas to add to your to-do list.
3. Baking. Trying out new recipes has been therapeutic for me and fun for my family. It’s always nice to have treats laying around, especially right now.
4. Getting inspired on Pinterest. Pinterest is the most positive social media app I use. I have been loving scrolling, dreaming of the future, and creating new boards. I like to think we will be more thoughtful when we resume ‘normal’ life. What are your dreams and goals? Do you want to travel, start a blog, or paint? Now is the time to ponder. If you aren’t sure, open up Pinterest and see what catches your eye!
5. Enjoying new music and podcasts. I love making new music playlists for different moods. I’ve also started a bunch of podcasts, including—

RISE with Rachel Hollis- An inspiring girl boss with tips for success in business and personal life. Her episode “How to Hold on to the Rope” is all about how to get through this time.

We Bought a House with Claudia Sulewski & Finneas- Claudia is one of my favorite YouTubers and Finneas is a musician/producer. This is their brand-new podcast, mostly consisting of their funny, clever conversations about life.

Girls Gotta Eat– Hilarious and so entertaining. Rayna and Ashley are comedians who chat about dating and relationships, with no topic off limits.

My favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:

@moonomens – Daily insightful thoughts geared toward the moon and astrology. If you are looking for powerful reminders or signs, this is the page for you.

@sniequist – Shauna Niequist is the author of one of my favorite books, Present Over Perfect, and her page is an authentic collection of her daily life and thoughts. I’m often inspired by her posts, and I think you will be, too!

@brenebrown – she is seriously a queen. I could write an entire post about my love for her. Her TED Talk “The Power of Vulnerability” changed my life. Anyways, her Instagram is a bunch of powerful quotes and photos. Check it out.

@morganharpernichols – Beautiful little poems and illustrations. Head over to her page if you haven’t seen her works of art already.

@allisonbickerstaff – I’m not sure how I first stumbled upon Allison, but I have followed her for years. She is such a ray of sunshine and posts happy, calming content in sunny Florida. Follow for positive, healthy lifestyle tips.

 

I would love to hear if you try any of this for yourself or any tips on how you are spending your time. Leave a comment or reach out at bitsbybrenna@gmail.com. Wishing you peace, health, and positivity!

-Brenna