Self-Care During Self-Quarantine
With everything that’s happening around the world due to emerging COVID-19 cases, it is easy to get lost in the noise of what’s taking place around us. This is inevitable, especially that almost everyone has access to real-time news through television, social media, or online sources. Along with this pandemic, the majority of us are being requested to stay at home in self-quarantine.
For healthy individuals implementing quarantine or those required to undergo self-isolation, this entails limitation of movement within the premises of their homes or within the four walls of their bedrooms. The bottom line of this approach is to limit the spread of the virus to others. Self-quarantine is an effective way to do physical distancing and to achieve the main goal: to flatten the curve.
Possible Negative Effects of Self-Quarantine
However, staying at home for extended periods of time can pose a significant challenge both physically and mentally. More sedentary activities and lesser physical activities while on self-quarantine can cause stress and challenge your mental health. This can bring negative effects on your health, well-being, and quality of life. According to a recent study published in a medical journal site, The Lancet, the negative psychological effects of a longer duration of quarantine can include the following:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms
- Confusion
- Anger
- Depression
- Sadness
- Low Mood
- Stress
- Irritability
- Fear
Health and Personal Care Maintenance
During times like this, it is perfectly normal to feel scared and stressed with what’s going on. You are not alone. Now more than ever, self-care is very important. Here are ways to maintain your physical and mental health while on self-quarantine.
Enrich a Hobby or Skill
It is time to learn a new hobby or continue projects you have put off for a long time. Keep yourself busy with whatever you enjoy doing and makes you happy. You can read your favorite novel, declutter your closet, binge-watch on your favorite shows, try new recipes, start a veggie garden, or learn a new skill. These activities will help you stave off quarantine-induced panic.
Indulge in Physical Activities
To help promote a sound mind and a sound body, physical activities such as doing household chores, walking around the house, performing yoga, or zumba exercises are helpful in reducing sedentary behavior and keeping you active. These recommendations are achievable even if you’re at home. They do not require special equipment and do not take up a lot of space.
Connect with Friends and Loved Ones
One of the most effective ways to cope during a pandemic and promote mental wellness is to connect with your friends and loved ones. Despite social distancing measures, technology makes it possible for you to communicate with them through phone or video calls, text messaging, social media posting and messaging, and email. This can minimize emotional distress. This is a time when a simple ‘hello’ can mean everything to somebody. It is important that everyone feels personally connected and supported to reduce anxiety and stress.
Strengthen Your Immunity
Now that you’ve helped prevent transmission by diligently staying at home, you also need to stay strong by eating healthy and getting enough sleep. These are critical measures to keep the immune system strong. Eat fruits and vegetables. Incorporate vitamin A (red, yellow, and orange foods), vitamin C (citrus fruits, leafy greens, broccoli), and vitamin E (sunflower, almond, or peanut butter) in your diet.
You can also integrate nutritional supplements for an added boost to your immune system. Drink plenty of clean water daily (at least a gallon per day). Most importantly, maintain good hygiene practices, keep your surroundings clean, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
If there is a dire need to go out of the house, take social distancing seriously by keeping a distance of six feet from other individuals. Wash hands regularly and carefully for at least twenty seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with immune support, with at least 60% alcohol content, if there is no available soap and water. You can also create your own DIY hand sanitizer to keep you clean and protected wherever, whenever. Lastly, avoid touching any part of your face or head.
Take Care of Your Skin
Self-care includes skincare. Even if you’re stuck at home, you can keep your skin healthy and vibrant. This is an excellent time to take care of your skin using natural skin care products.
You can achieve a brighter, blemish-free, and radiant skin in three easy steps.
- Brighten. After your usual cleansing and toning routine, use a Skin Brightening Serum to brighten age spots and hyperpigmentation. Look for an anti-pigment formula with Alpha Arbutin to minimize the appearance of skin discoloration.
- Moisturize. Your skin will benefit from balanced moisture levels. Moisturizing protects the skin from itching and drying. Use a water-based formula. It is easily absorbed into the skin compared to oil-based gels. A good moisturizer is oil-free and wax-free. It is also a humectant just like TreeActiv Oil-Free Advanced Skin Repair Serum
- Treat. Use a brightening cream that is formulated to reduce acne scars and dark spots with natural ingredients that improve skin tone, promote cell regeneration, and heal acne.
Disclaimer:
This self-care guide is intended for people in self-quarantine without any symptoms or diagnosis
of COVID-19. It is in no way intended to replace medical advice from healthcare providers..
References:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30460-8/fulltext
https://www.success.com/11-things-to-do-in-self-quarantine-that-are-more-productive-than-netflix/
https://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/2020/03/24/at-home-skincare-coronavirus/
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/what-is-covid-19-doing-to-our-mental-health
https://www.outsideonline.com/2410533/quarantine-pandemic-cooking-eating-food