There’s no doubt it’s been a strange few months. With Covid-19 How to care for yourself in times of isolation is more important than ever. Establish wellness practices that will serve and support you in these trying times.
Self-care in isolation is particularly important, and there’s no “right” way to practice it. However, there are a few wellness techniques and routines that can help you restore balance to your life while in isolation.
Yoga for Quarantine
Whether you are a dedicated yogi or brand new to the practice, yoga is one of the most restorative wellness practices you can undertake. Although yoga studios are closed right now, this holistic practice is one that you can easily try at home.
Don’t worry if you don’t have your own yoga mat, all you really need is some open space in your home where you can practice the poses. A towel or a small blanket can be used to help you orient yourself for the poses, just be sure it won’t slide around on the floor.
Yoga teachers have long been leading follow-along sessions on platforms like YouTube, so try a quick search online for beginner yoga (or a more advanced class if you like) and give it a whirl. While doing yoga at home, you won’t have to worry about other students in class, so it’s a great way to build your confidence if you’re new to the practice. Check out YouVeda Guided Yoga in our knowledge center for more.
For life in self-isolation, here are a few yoga poses you should try:
Meditation for Self-Isolation
While meditation and yoga work well in tandem, you can also benefit from taking a few minutes to center yourself everyday. Meditation is known to reduce anxiety and stress, and it can help you stay in touch with your body’s needs during quarantine.
It’s important to remember that just like yoga, meditation is a practice. Don’t be frustrated if you find it hard to stay focused or fully immersed when you first begin. We’ve outlined a basic meditation practice below that you can use to stay mindful anywhere, anytime. Try setting a timer for just 5 minutes if you’re a beginner, and gradually build up to a longer meditation session.
First, find a comfortable place to sit. It could be at your desk, on your bed, or even cross-legged on the floor. Next, close your eyes.
Take a few moments and focus on your breath. Slowly inhale through your nose, and exhale through your mouth. Spend as long as you like breathing slowly and deliberately — even this practice alone has been shown to have calming benefits.
Once you’re feeling relaxed, do an internal body scan. Keeping your eyes closed, focus your attention on individual areas of your body, starting with the top of your head. Take note of the sensations you’re experiencing and places you may be holding tension. If you can, try to relax your muscles as you go. It’s okay if you can’t fully relax, the point is simply to be mindful of what you are experiencing.
After you’ve checked in with your body, open your eyes. Remember that it’s okay if you find your thoughts racing as you try this practice. Meditation is not about clearing your mind of all thought, but being aware of the thoughts as they occur and letting them go.
Creative Outlets for Anxiety
Many of us have much more free time than we’re used to during quarantine. Too much free time can make it easy for anxiety to spin out of control. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to have some creative outlets for you to channel your emotions. Try one or a combination of the activities below to ease your anxiety during quarantine.
- Coloring
- Music (performing or just singing along)
- Painting
- Origami
- Knitting or crochet
- Cooking
During Covid-19: the key to self-care in isolation is taking things one day at a time. How to care for yourself in times of isolation is quite importand. Everyone copes differently with stress, so be sure to tune into your own needs and give yourself a break from time to time. Self-isolation doesn’t have to be a burden — it can be a time to reconnect with yourself through mindful practices and intentional moments of self-care.
Author: Alexandria Baker (YouVeda Wellness Contributor)
