How to Practice Self-Care in a Second Lockdown to Feel Better

After a summer of beating back the novel coronavirus, our sworn enemy appears to be coming back with a vengeance. Here are some suggestions for practicing self-care in a second lockdown. After a summer of beating back the novel coronavirus, our sworn enemy appears to be coming back with a vengeance. As cases continue to rise across the country, the second round of stay-at-home orders is inevitable. At the time of publication, some new orders are already being issued. That means it’s time to hunker down at home once again. We must reacquaint ourselves with life during quarantine. But while lockdown is no less serious the second time around, we can better prepare for some of the challenges it presents to our well-being. Safely getting food and exercise is important. But, we also need to do the little things that help us keep our sanity too. Here are some suggestions for practicing self-care in a second lockdown.

Set “Bite-Sized” Reading Goals

So maybe you haven’t been able to devote your extra time to write the next best-selling Novel. Maybe you haven’t even been able to read someone else’s best-selling Novel. But don’t let any of that dissuade you from using your time spent at home to read quality literature. One thing we learned about free time in lockdown is that it doesn’t always occur in nice big blocks after all. It might occur in 15 minutes of downtime here or another 20 there. And all that time adds up to a lot of spaced-out idle moments at home. Instead of devoting yourself to a doorstop of a tome, consider reading short stories to get your literary fix in bite-sized pieces. Look for short story anthologies or literary journals to get started.

Take Care of Your Hair

One of the mistakes we made the first time around was to let ourselves go and let ourselves grow. Salons were closed after all, and hair care didn’t feel all that essential. This lead to a spring season of unstyled hair, visible roots, and general personal neglect. But as we’ve adjusted to the work-at-home lifestyle. We’ve realized that appearance still matters—and not just the arrangement of the books on our ever-so-prominent bookshelves. It’s an old cliché, but it proved itself true: when you look good, you feel good. Visit your local hair salon to start putting together a home hair-care kit that will keep your hair looking its best even through another quarantine.

Practice Journaling

Working from home may get you burned out on typing all day. Reconnect with a pen and paper by keeping an old-fashioned journal to put down your thoughts. Before you complain about hand cramps, consider the value of physically and psychologically partitioning. By journaling in a separate place from the computer you work at, you can write more freely and do more honest self-assessment.

Meditate for Self-Care

Most ideas for practicing self-care in a second lockdown are about doing something to stay busy or taking on something new. What if you were to do…nothing? Not exactly nothing, to be clear, but rather a mindful absence of activity. Working from home and losing all your other third spaces like restaurants, gyms, and cafés can stress you out and leave you feeling trapped. Consider meditating and taking yourself out of the moment as best you can. As we stay indoors, make a bid for inner peace. How have you cared for yourself during the pandemic thus far? Let us know in the comments below!

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