Stress-Free & Sane During Quarantine

Unfortunately, we weren’t given a rule book on “How to stay sane during COVID-19”. We’re all trying to protect the health of each other, especially the ones we love, and protect our sanity at the same time. Here is how you can stay cool, calm, and connected during quarantine –

Stop watching the news!

I know my anxiety levels rise when I listen to the same stuff over and over and over again. Plus, most of what you see on TV right now are other people’s opinions – today’s spikes in Covid-19 cases, what will happen to the market, will we ever be able to travel to another country again?!?!? Trash. NO ONE actually know what will happen. If someone could actually predict the future and let us know when this will be over, wouldn’t we all still be healthy and probably rich too, right? The nice thing about living in today’s society is that whatever you miss, I’m SURE social media will catch you up on the highlights.

Self-care, self-care, self-care

MAKE time to take care of yourself, don’t just “find” the time. Especially if you’re quarantined with others, making that time to check in with yourself will help you stay sane. Take care of your mental health too! My New Year’s resolution for 2020 was to take time every single day for myself, something I often forget to do especially always being on the go. Here are some examples of what counts as “time for myself” –

• Do a FULL skincare regimen – exfoliation, mask and all
• Exercise
• Read a chapter of my current book
• Listen to a podcast
• Stretch when I wake up
• Take a bath (my new obsession)

HERE ARE SOME OF MY NEW BATH FAVS –

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Socialize

Check-in on those around you, we’re all going through this together. If you’re in a good mindset, reach out to your friends and family to make sure they’re healthy and safe as well. I make a mental list in my mind of all my family members and spend the time to run through everyone on the list to check-in and make sure they’re happy and healthy. Just remember not to unload on them, if they wanted negativity they’d watch the news 😉 Spread the positivity because we ALL need it.

Also socialize with GAME NIGHTS! There are SO many new games to play now over virtual calls! Get a group together and play games. My current favorites are the house party app and one we recently discovered Psych!! If you’re just not the game type, then just throw a virtual happy hour and drink all the martinis your heart desires.

Cook

I’ve been challenging myself to cook the food I’ve been craving and would typically order out. I’ll tell you it has been a YUMMY month and so far zero fails! Try new recipes of dishes you wouldn’t typically cook. Also, I’ve been baking a lot, however, I don’t recommend this because without having others over you end up having to eat it all…

Exercise

Did you know that when you exercise, you release endorphins that literally trigger positivity?! Before quarantine, I was only doing Pilates as my workout. I’ve just never formed the habit nor had I wanted to do more. But I have to tell you all, now that I am consistently making the time to work out I feel better mentally, I eat cleaner and don’t crave junky snacks, and I am less tired. (Plus I’m getting married and need to make sure my dress fits when we get out of this stay home order…) Give your mind that break it needs and take a walk, go on a run, or just stream a quick booty blaster!

Maintain healthy habits

Keep to your routine during the weekdays! Wake up at the same time. Make time for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner. Go to bed at the same time. This will also help you stay motivated! But really shake it up on the weekends. Force your mind to differentiate your weekdays from your weekends because if you don’t I’m telling you, you’re going to get burned out. Plus it gives you something to look forward to and keeps you on track with what day of the week it is. Spend your weekends doing something you might not be able to do during the weekdays like taking a long drive, cook or bake something that takes more time, or spend time outside on your garden or maintaining your yard.

Give yourself something to look forward to

Create a bucket list of things big and small that you’d like to do once you’re able to. Here is mine –

• GET MARRIED and go on our honeymoon!
• Eat KBBQ in a restaurant
• Plan a trip back to Spain
• Host a BBQ
• Eat pasta and drink wine in Italy
• Host GAME NIGHT!

Stop staring at the pantry

If you’re someone that needs to hear this then here you go! Stop eating because you can. I get it, the kitchen is RIGHT there and delivery services are way too convenient. But when we come out of this you’re going to be DOUBLE the amount upset, especially if it’s the middle of summer! If I’ve learned anything about my fiance this quarantine, he is a huge snacker ha! We make a lot of trips to the grocery store for cereal. If it’s around his proximity, he’ll eat it…expired or not. I still love him anyway.

Get a good nights rest

Lastly, please listen to your body and give it the rest it needs to reset. I don’t know how the rest of you are doing but I was having insane dreams at the beginning of all this. I can notice a huge difference when I’m stressed versus relaxed based on my sleeping habits. Take the time off if you need to and just sleep. Easy.

Do that thing you’ve always wanted to do but never found the time for –

Friends, do me a favor and focus on the things you can control and stay positive!
We’re all in this together!