Finding your new normal

There are many things in our lives that are completely within our control – and some that are not. For most of us, those things that are not within our control but that effect our lives irregardless have the deepest, and often most difficult, impact. As a global community we find ourselves in the midst of just such a phenomenon – our daily habits and routines have been forced to change almost overnight. The impact is really two-fold – the loss of our daily structure and the inability to do much about it.

And while we can’t personally change the rules regarding social distancing and quarantine, what we can do is find ways to adapt and adjust in the most healthy, fruitful ways possible. Yes, these are challenging times to be sure, and many of us are experiencing a hunger for comfort, peace and calmness. Depending on how we decide to think about these times, they can offer opportunity as well.

These days present us with an opportunity to create a “new normal.” Many of the ways we previously filled our time are simply not available or possible, and creating new habits and routines is a wonderful way to establish some sense of equilibrium, peace and tranquility. What better way to do so than to either explore – or revisit – self care routines.

Here are ten ways to do just that. These may be familiar ideas, but there’s something to be said about being intentional and structuring these simple habits into your daily routine. It’s my sincere hope that these ten ideas will encourage and inspire you to build the self care you so deeply deserve into your day.

And, for a deeper look into self-care, PositivePsychology.com has an excellent article titled How To Practice Self-Care: 10 Worksheets and 12 Ideas. It includes self-care worksheets, self-care activity ideas and a look at emotional intelligence tools. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to read this article, it’s got some wonderful takeaways for making self-care an integral part of your daily life. You can read it here.

#1. Listen to audio books or read a good book

Many of us have had that list of books we’ve just been meaning to get to – and yet never seem to find the time for. These are perfect times for curling up in your favorite comfortable spot in your home or garden and spending time with that reading list that was collecting dust. You could read something “juicy” just for fun, or dig into something more educational, like a “how to” or self help book. And whether you read a physical book or listen to an audio book, the benefits are wonderful when it comes to healthy entertainment, edification or both. Stay tuned for a great list of must-reads we will post next week.

#2. Take walks

This is such an easy, simple way to care for yourself and yet it can be so powerful. The benefits of walking go beyond just physical health, and also have an impact on your mood and even your ability to sleep better. Walking, especially somewhere beautiful like a forest trail or beach, is a meditative activity in and of itself and offers wonderful time for reflection and grounding. It’s also so easy to do – put on your most comfortable shoes, perhaps some music streamed from your phone, and you can literally set out from your front door on a peaceful self care journey.

#3. Give yourself a home “spa treatment” and take a scented bath

While many of us may be missing our “beauty routines” at the local salon or nail shop, there’s no reason we can’t recreate something lovely for ourselves at home. And, doing so on a regular basis is a good habit to get into and a great reminder that caring for your physical self is something you can do, and deserve to do. Using lavender in your home and bath is an excellent way to promote feelings of peace, calmness and tranquility. You can read about some of lavender’s benefits in this recent post and find a free pattern for making sweet and simple sachets to fill your home with serenity.

#4. Create a nutrition plan

Being on the run and constantly on the go can make it very difficult to maintain a healthy eating plan. It’s a great opportunity to spend some time creating a nutrition plan and finding balance with eating habits. Oftentimes we don’t realize how poorly we may be feeling – until we’re feeling better. It goes without saying that healthy eating has a profound impact on many aspects of our lives.

#5. Have a Skype call with a friend or family member

While we’re being told to isolate ourselves with social distancing, it’s so very important to find ways to maintain connection with others. In our digital age we have multiple ways to do just that, whether it’s through Skype, Zoom, FaceTime… there are lots of options. And, consider that the benefit here isn’t just for ourselves, but for those we care about who may be struggling at a deeper level with feelings of loneliness and isolation. Connecting with and encouraging others is a great way spend time in a meaningful way.

#6. Yoga

There are so many benefits to yoga, including increased flexibility, muscle strength and tone, improved energy and vitality, balancing your metabolism, protection from injuries… the list literally goes on and on. And, the great news is that with a simple YouTube search you can find any number of simple and free yoga “how to” videos to follow along with.

#7. Spend time with motivational quotes

It really is true that what we surround ourselves with is where our minds will dwell. So, if we spend time reading the inspiring and motivating words of others, it’s an excellent way to give our mindset and outlook a boost. I’ve created a free printable download with ten inspiring quotes in various formats so that you can get creative and use them to make greeting cards, stickers, framed wall art… whatever way you can think of to surround yourself with positivity. You can find it in this post.

#8. Keep a daily journal

Writing is powerful. Spending time putting your thoughts on paper (or on your computer) is an opportunity to gain perspective, to work through thoughts and ideas, and to inspire yourself with whatever comes to you. While for some it may be difficult to start, a good pointer is to just sit down and start writing. This is only for you (unless you decide otherwise!), so don’t hold back and just let the words come. You can even start with something simple like what you did that day, and see where your thoughts take you from there. You may be pleasantly surprised!

#9. Meditate

Meditation is another habit that many have good intentions around, but just never seem to find the time for. And, like yoga, the benefits of meditation go on and on. Some of them include: Stress reduction, controlling anxiety, promoting emotional health, enhancing self-awareness and increasing attention span. If you’re not sure how to start this practice, a simple Google search will provide you with a multitude of how-tos and simple practices to get started with. You can find something that suits your personality and comfort, and might even try starting off with guided meditations to help you grasp the “how to” of meditation.

#10. Start painting / knitting / crocheting / sewing as a new hobby

And finally, these times are also a perfect opportunity to pursue that craft hobby you’ve been putting off. It’s so fun and gratifying to learn something new – and to actually create something. If you need materials, try sourcing them from local shops who may be willing to ship or do curbside pick up as it’s also a good opportunity to support small businesses like these that are likely suffering financially. If these aren't an option, the internet is a vast resource for both materials and “how-tos.” And by the way – we have a great beginner quilt pattern for you here!

And there you have it – ten simple ways you can practice self care and create new habits in your daily routine. Remember that you are so worth it and that caring for ourselves in these challenging times is one of the best ways we can be present and available as our best selves for our friends, family and community.

What great books are you reading or listening to – or are meaning to get to? Share with us in the comments below, we’d love to hear about them!