Social distancing has become part of the norm. Disrupting our everyday routine, many of us feel stuck at home, twiddling our thumbs with boredom or trying to be overly productive. But it’s important to remember that productivity is not the same as self-care. Sometimes, your brain just needs a rest and reset, and the best way to do that is through a bit of self-care. Here are nine ways to practice self-care without leaving the house.
#1 Create a DIY Spa Day
Create a spa day filled with face masks and more! Taking care of your skin, hair, nails – you name it! – can alleviate stress and make you feel calm, practicing self-care without leaving the house or even the bathroom or bedroom.
Treat yourself to a mani-pedi to trim your nails and apply a fresh coat of polish in a color that makes you feel good or come alive. Be sure to indulge your skin, nourishing it with hydrating moisturizers, from your face to your toes. While you’re at it, pick up a teeth whitening kit, complete with teeth whitening gel, to get a brighter smile. (Just be sure to pick up this compact teeth whitening pen that went viral on TikTok for whenever you do leave the house!)
#2 Try a New Recipe
Cooking and baking have a way of helping us return to a simpler time. So whether you want to try cooking dinner for yourself or bake a batch of homemade cookies to bundle up and deliver to friends and family, try your hand with a new recipe.
Scan Pinterest for recipes ahead of time and have ingredients delivered straight to your door without even setting foot in a grocery store. If you enjoy cooking and baking regularly and want to incorporate it into your usual self-care routine, seek out boxed delivery services, from ready-to-make meal kits to baking kits.
You can even support your local community, reaching out to restaurants, bakers and farmers. They might offer their own ready-made boxes as well.
#3 Engage Your Brain and Learn a New Skill
Learning and productivity are two separate things. While you can allow your mind to calm itself, you can still be engaged. Choose to learn a skill that has always eluded you, whether it was due to a lack of time, patience or whatever else was holding you back.
What kind of new skills, you ask? There are countless! Always wanted to speak fluent French or Japanese? There are several language learning apps to help you get started. Interested to learn how to paint watercolor or use digital media like Procreate? There are a variety of free online courses and YouTube Channels available.
#4 Declutter and Organize Untidy Areas
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Another way to practice self-care without leaving the house? Show your home some love, as well as yourself, by decluttering and organizing. Studies have proven that a home filled with clutter has a negative effect on your mental health. So tackle any areas that have been building up, like that corner of your makeshift home office, and calm your mind. Spruce up untidy areas that have been nagging you, organizing items in boxes or shelves to give it a more aesthetically-pleasing appearance.
#5 Pick Up a Book (or Two or Three)
Just because you don’t leave the house doesn’t mean you can’t escape to another world. Pick up a book (or an entire trilogy, if you prefer), a cup of coffee or tea and read to get away. If you’re already an avid reader, choose a book in a genre you’ve never tried before. Escape with fiction, sci-fi or even a cozy mystery. Of course, take advantage of your library’s e-book resources or support your local bookstore, many of which offer curbside pickup.
#6 Play Online Games with Friends
Being physically distant doesn’t mean you can’t spend time with others. You just have to get a little creative! The next time you open up your device for a video coffee chat, suggest playing an online game for a little friendly competition. Online games keep your brain stimulated while also offering a fun way to spend time with your besties and beating those isolation blues. Not sure where to start? Check out Arkadium, which offers free online games, or browse your phone.
#7 Do a Digital Detox and Unplug from Social Media
While it’s an excellent way to stay connected to family and friends, social media can become toxic. Instead of doing your hourly doomsday scroll, find healthier habits or block social media for a while. Unless it makes you feel inspired or content and relaxed, do a digital detox. Block all your notifications and break out a paper journal instead to share your thoughts with yourself. Instead of sending a message to your friend, write a letter instead.
#8 Release the Creative Juices Through Crafts or Art
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If you choose to engage your brain by creating art, you already have this covered! But if not, make sure to get those creative juices flowing. Find a new craft or artistic endeavor that lifts your spirits and gets you in touch with your imagination. Pick up a craft kit from your local art store or learn embroidery or knitting. Prefer a brush to a needle? Then choose a cheap set of paints and some paper or a canvas, setting out to paint whatever brings you joy at the moment. (Tip: Watercolor is an easy and affordable option for beginners!)
#9 Create an At-Home Gym and Start a Workout Routine
With all these self-care activities that engage your brain and keep your mind stimulated, don’t forget to address the physical body, too. If hitting the gym is not an option, create your own. Find a small area of the home and create a home gym, where you can roll out the yoga mat, do some morning pushups or even jumping jacks to get some cardio.
