Have you been feeling like you want a break from your routine, but you can’t step back? Do you feel like you have an endless list of tasks and never feel accomplished? Are you finding it hard to unwind or to get enough sleep?
Then you might be nearing a burnout. This is not surprising given how drastically our lifestyles have changed!
- Overworked: While you might be gaining time by skipping the daily commute, there are other parts of your life filling up that spare time. Like taking care of your family, helping your children with their homework and regular household upkeep.
- Boundaries: There is no clear gap between work and personal life. Many times, the work day blends into the evening. And if your workspace is in the living room, then it may feel like you have no down time because you spend your whole day in the same environment!
- Cooped up: You have given up on your usual ways of unwinding, like hitting the bar, going to a movie or meeting your friends. Right now, it’s the same old Netflix every night!
- Socialization: There is a dramatic decrease in meeting new people or old friends. Being unable to meet family can be frustrating and lonely. On the other hand, living with your family might mean lesser privacy.
- No break from news: News is everywhere and we cannot ignore it. While it’s important to be updated with major happenings across the world, it can get too overwhelming.
If these sound familiar to you, it’s time for these ideas for self care! You can prevent a pandemic burnout by practicing these self care tips and making things easier for yourself!
1. Pressure to be productive
Make the best use of this time! But HOLD up, I don’t mean that this pandemic has be treated like a productivity contest.
Use your free time to do whatever you love, whether it’s unwinding and binge-watching Netflix, or picking up on new hobbies or just chilling without any agenda! Don’t be pressured into becoming your most productive self.
Remember, free time is important to do your best work! You get new ideas and inspiration when your mind wanders and it gives you a much needed break.
2. Workspace
It is super important to have a designated work area and to set a specific clock-out time. This will help you remain focused on your tasks during work and curb working over-time.
Try to keep your workspace away from your couch, bed or wherever you relax. This helps in creating a boundary between your personal and work life while being in the same pajamas!
Related post: 5 Easy Tips to Achieve Work-Life Balance
3. Brain dump
Sometimes, we just have a lot on our plate in all quadrants of our lives! We can get side tracked and procrastinate by creating endlessly long to-do lists that are unachievable. I am so guilty of this!
My resolution for that is to try the brain dump method. This is one of the best ideas for self care! I write down everything that’s on my mind – thoughts, worries and tasks. This helps me organize my list into things that can be tackled and worries beyond my control.
Next, prioritizing this list is crucial. Accept the fact that they can’t all be done in one day. Focus on the most important one and keep tackling the list from there.
Always remember to appreciate the progress that you have made, otherwise you will never feel accomplished!
4. Fresh air
Since we are mostly cooped up at home all day, getting some fresh air would make a big difference. Spend time outdoors as much as possible, while being mindful about your local COVID regulations.
You can open your windows and spend time in your patio or backyard. If possible, go for a walk in a safe, permissible area near your home (even if it’s just around the block) or you could even drive around.
5. Social media/news
Here’s a small exercise – in your phone, check your screen time usage for the past week. The numbers will surprise you!
It was a wake-up call for me. On average, I used to spend 2-3 hours everyday on Instagram. This was the biggest reason why I felt like I had no break.
Mindlessly scrolling news or social media apps is bound to overload us with information. This might not be the best way to unwind, it definitely wasn’t for me!
I made a conscious effort to reduce my engagement on social media. Instead, I started using that time to unwind and relax by reading a book, watching Netflix or meal-prepping for the next day.
Previously, there were only a few major newspapers in print, TV or radio. But today, we have news infiltrating us through every platform on the internet. This can be overwhelming!
To prevent this, you can spend a few minutes everyday to read news from trusted sources, instead of scrolling through several recommended posts.
6. Journaling
The days are surely whizzing by! And most days and weeks can feel alike.
I started writing a list of all the good things that happened during my day, like a meeting getting cancelled or not burning my dinner!
It is one of my favorite ideas for self care. This practice of journaling has helped me appreciate my days a lot more! Even though the pandemic has been hard, I am really grateful for having this slow pace of life.
7. Reorganizing & cleaning
In the past year, we have spent the most amount of time between the four walls of our homes. Give your place a fresh look by re-organizing your furniture!
Some people find cleaning to be therapeutic but many find it to be a chore! Either way, cleaning your home is a surefire way to feel accomplished!
8. Movement
We need endorphins now, more than ever!
Here’s a simple rule that I follow. Since I am at my desk or on my bed for most of the day, I have to be active for at least one hour everyday. It can be any activity!
Play pumped up workout music and follow YouTube tutorials for anything that you want to try – stretches, core strengthening routines, Zumba or Pilates.
Doing this can help you feel energized, and eventually you can create your own workout plan with the activities that you enjoy!
9. New things to explore
Feeling bored, annoyed and just stuck? Here are some cool ideas if you have run out of things to do at home!
Instead of sticking to your favorite genre or re-watching a sitcom, try something new and experimental. There are a ton of interesting documentaries on every topic possible! Or pick up one of your old hobbies and work on leveling up your skills!
Lastly,
These ideas for self care will help you prevent a burnout and beat the pandemic burnout blues. Remember to pat yourself on your back everyday. You are doing the best you can. Just the fact that you read this blog is proof that you are taking the steps to making things better for yourself!
Related post: 12 Ways to Relieve Stress