Sheltering in place definitely has its mental and emotional ups and downs. There are a lot of things that are out of our control and it’s easy to get caught up in feelings of stress or worry. Over the past few weeks we’ve found that it helps to focus on the things we can control, like self-care, even if they seem like seemingly small things. Here are some aspects of our routine that have helped us keep a positive outlook:

1. Long walks. I love our walks because we have each other’s full attention. We can share our thoughts and feelings without any distractions. Plus, exercise always releases stress-busting endorphins and drives away the temptation to morph into a couch potato.

2. Aromatherapy. One of our favorite home accessories is our essential oil diffuser. We use it every day. There’s just something very soothing about the scent of lavender or peppermint and the soft hiss of steam coming out of the machine.

3. Music. This is a big one for me. I’ve actually noticed a significant difference in my mood, depending on what playlist I listen to. When I listen to slower ballads, I tend to be in a more melancholic mood, but as soon as I crank up my Pumped Up Spotify list, I instantly start to feel better.

4. Cutting down on stressful news. I’ve been really intentional with limiting how much pandemic news I read. Obviously, it’s important to stay informed, especially on local health and safety mandates. But, there’s also a benefit to setting healthy limits on how much stressful news I allow myself to soak up, especially before going to bed.

5. Sleep. I’ve been tracking my sleep off and on over the past year with the help of my Fitbit tracker. I get a sleep quality score whenever I go to bed wearing my Fitbit. I’ve always loved stats and hard data, so tracking my sleep score helps give me some insights on why I might have certain moods or feelings the next day. There’s an undeniable correlation between my quality of sleep and my outlook for the day ahead.

What are some of your favorite self-care strategies?

This daily blog post series is our way of sharing our experience with you, our readers. We’ll talk about our daily routines, adjustments to working from home, recipes based on limited ingredients and any other topic that comes to mind. It’s our way of connecting with the “outside” world, while also giving us the opportunity to look within and reflect on what we’re experiencing and how we’re feeling. Thanks for your interest in sharing this journey with us. Stay tuned and be well.