Staying Sane during Quarantine

As we continue to be in this unprecedented time together, let’s remember to be kind, be compassionate, and have grace. While we are all cooped up inside, let’s love ourselves a little more and catch up on some self-care. 

Most of the recent restrictions in our lives are out of our control right now, but what we can control is our response. Your state of being matters the most, so here are 5 tips that can help you destress and find your balance during these uncertain times.

1. Fuel your body

This is a perfect time to make that new recipe you have been wanting to try. Cook yourself a nourishing plant-based meal, eat a balanced diet with healthy fats, vegetables, and protein, or bake something delicious. Begin implementing a more holistic diet, and reach for foods that boost your immune system and help you feel energetic. Make your favorite cup of tea, and just relax. In times of fear, it is more crucial than ever to bond over food and eat well. We are all in this together!

2. Connect with family

We might be staying at home and eliminating physical contact with the world beyond our homes, but this might be the best opportunity to spend time with loved ones and reconnect with family. Family bonding time strengthens family ties, creates memories, and may relieve stress. On a similar note, it’s easy to get lost in the noise of what’s going on around us, so I’d avoid excessive exposure to social media and the news too. Instead, I’d encourage everyone to add some extra time for daily stress relief and self-reflection beyond family bonding moments.

3. Get creative with your wardrobe

Even though most of us are probably lounging in our pajamas, that doesn’t mean we should neglect our closets. This is an opportunity to reorganize and clean your wardrobe! Closet cleaning can be a chore, but look at it as a fun activity, especially when styling comes into play. When it comes to fashion, I love taking the extra time to mix and match different pieces and come up with different ways to style outfits. For example, a slip dress is a simple and basic piece to work with.

I’m all about maximizing those staple pieces in your closet while staying trendy and authentically you at the same time!

Being fashionable and stylish doesn’t have to require a huge amount of effort. Invest in pieces that are high quality and have most mix and match power. Knowing your body type and how to style it is a skill, but you can start now by organizing your closet and setting aside your classic pieces so that mixing and matching ends up being a little easier than before.

What you wear makes a statement to the world about who you are, and you want to feel confident in what you wear. If you want any styling tips, please reach out to me, and I’m happy to share some tips! It varies from person to person, and I’m a huge proponent of customization and personal expression. Happy organizing friends!

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4. Use good skincare

Self-care is about self-preservation. Beyond masking 1-3 times a week, it’s a great time to focus on the daily routine of how you take care of your skin. After all, the skin is our largest organ, so we should remember to nourish it with the best products. Find all my beauty favorites linked here for shopping!

In general, my skincare routine for both AM and PM involves rotating between a foaming cleanser and gel cleanser followed with essence and/or toner, serum, eye cream, and lotion or cream. I usually stick to this basic regimen, but will make slight modifications based on weather changes (e.g. add an oil when my skin feels dry), makeup application (e.g. double cleansing especially when I wear any eye makeup), etc.

Along the lines of using good products, I’d also take this opportunity to reorganize bathroom drawers, cleaning out unused things and restocking accordingly. If you want to check out my skincare recommendations, feel free to check out my blogs on my cleansing skincare favs and top toning, serum, and moisturizers.

5. Get beauty sleep

Finally, my other self-care tip involves creating a bedtime ritual if you don’t already have one.

Here are some ideas: 

• Take an extra hot bubble bath or shower
• Curl up and read a book or journal
• Take some deep breaths or learn to meditate
• Stretch 
• Get some fresh air
• Say words of affirmation and count your blessings
• Write down 3 things you are grateful for
• Use some essential oils to boost your mood

As a time for meditation, focus, goal-setting, kindness, prayer, and gratitude for all that you have, it’s crucial to be mindful of others, to practice good personal hygiene and social distancing, but most importantly, to be understanding and spread love, not hate, because we all need it. I’m looking forward to more self-care time to help improve my mind, body, and soul. We may not be free from Coronavirus yet, but we are free to practice self-care! Share your self-care tips in the comments below.

Posted By: Katie Melanie Lam · In: Fashion & Beauty, Lifestyle