During lockdown, many people turned to self-care to ease their anxieties about COVID-19 and take advantage of the free time they had during the peak of the pandemic. As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, and many people return to work, some people may struggle to continue self-care practices as they adapt to the new normal.
Why is self-care still important post-lockdown?
Self-care is any activity we complete that helps our personal needs and wellbeing. This can be anything from cooking your favourite meal to talking to a psychologist. For high-functioning individuals, self-care is a vital practice that must be continued post-lockdown to ensure their mental and physical wellbeing does not diminish and to ensure they can adapt and continue to thrive in a post-lockdown world.
Tips for maintaining self-care practices post-lockdown
1. Create a new schedule
Whether you have been invited back to your workplace or now have more social and family commitments to attend (such as meeting a family member from a safe distance) you may suddenly find that your free time is very limited. Ensure you block out time for self-care in your new schedule and reject any social or work commitments during this free time. For example, do not sacrifice your morning to answer work emails.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/meditation/how-meditation-can-improve-your-mental-health. Research shows that meditation can handle negative feelings and emotions. Meditation is the practice of which can improve mental health meditation
2. Adapt your environment
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, you may no longer be able to keep personal items in your workplace or at your desk. Change your background to an image that helps you feel motivated, such as your family or a travel destination, and use this as a visual reminder to keep focus throughout your workday. You can also look for various self-care apps to download on your phone/desktop so you can continue to practice self-care throughout your working day.
3. Check-in with yourself frequently
During the busy return-to-work period, it is easy for employees to become preoccupied with work and forget to consider their own wellbeing. Check-in with yourself frequently and analyse how you are feeling mentally and emotionally. We are currently experiencing an unprecedented time, so do not feel guilty about feeling negative, anxious or scared about returning to work and living in a post-lockdown world.
To learn more about managing self-care practice and changing negative behaviours, contact me today. It is important to remember during this unprecedented time that you are never alone and help is always available.
