If your experience has been anything like mine the past year, taking care of yourself during the pandemic and a lock down has been tough. Our lives are mostly restricted to being at home, and this makes me feel as though I don’t need time for self-care. Why? Because I feel like I haven’t done anything to deserve it!
If the pandemic wasn’t occurring right now, my usual life would consist of going to and from my college campus for classes and club meetings, working in an office for my part-time job, going to a gym, and so much more. Now, all of this activity is condensed into one space: my home. Because of this, it’s hard to convince myself that I need self-care. For the most part all I’ve done is sit at home all day; why should I take time to watch Netflix or nap?
Despite feeling unaccomplished, in reality I am doing all the work I usually do in addition to facing new challenges because of the pandemic. In fact, in some ways my work is harder because I am isolated at home. It’s hard to switch from working to relaxing in the same exact space, and this can make it difficult to tell how much time I have spent doing either.
So, yes, we do deserve some self-care time, even if we don’t feel like we’ve done much. When you recognize that you need a break, take it. When you realize that you haven’t been outside all day, go for a walk. It’s the little forms of self-care that will help you in the end.