Seven Self Care Tips To Stay Sane In Lockdown

Ah, lockdown. It’s tough. No, let me rephrase that. It’s BLOODY tough.

But through all the blood, sweat and tears, there have been plenty of silver linings. And even chatting to friends lately, it seems we’ve all found our way of developing little rituals that give us that sense of control, consistency and a few little joys along the way. Here’s what mine are:

20 MIN WORKOUT
It’s my non-negotiable 6 days a week, first thing in the morning. My rule is that when I get up I’m not allowed to take a sip of my espresso until my activewear is on. It works! 20 mins of exercise is something I can squeeze in every day and means there’s no excuses. Usually for me that’s a 4K run or a quick HIIT workout in my loungeroom (pumping beats essential… ask my friends, I’m often known as The Pop Queen). Also, I find that if I think of exercise as part of my routine, I take the decision making out of the process. It’s no longer a question of if I’m going to exercise, it’s just a given and I get on, do it and feel amazing.
POP TO THE COFFEE SHOP
This is not just about the caffeine, it’s about getting out mid morning, walking down to the coffee shop, saying hello to my neighbours, patting their dogs, and saying hi to my barista. How good is it when they know your order and all you need to say is “the regular thanks”.
READING THE PAPER (OLD SCHOOL STLYE)
I limit the amount of news I watch, but one simple joy is reading the paper. I love holding an actual paper in my hands, it’s a really mindful experience and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Plus I’ll often tear out recipes and add them to my ‘to cook’ collection.
20 MIN LUNCHTIME WALK
At lunchtime I always get out for a brisk walk. I head over to the park across the road, smile at the dogs running around, feel the fresh air and look at all the beautiful green trees. On sunny days I wear my vest so my arms are exposed and I can create some well-needed vitamin D.
STANDING MEETINGS
To reduce zoom fatigue, try a standing meeting. It’s something I’ve introduced recently and I’m finding I feel more energised (yes more!) when I stand in a meeting than if I’m sitting all day. Try your next meeting standing and see what you think! Hint: I use my thick cookbooks (Hello Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer) to prop up my laptop so it’s at eye height and I’m ergonomically set.
COOKING
I’ve been doing heaps more cooking in lockdown, and I find it soooo therapeutic. It’s something that takes me away from the world, and immerses me into a place where I can focus on transforming fresh produce into something truly magical. Let’s not forget the cherry on the top is the eating at the end!
MEDITATION
I’m really big on this. After winding down with a book I pop my Headspace app on every night. If you’re one to start thinking about your to do list the moment your head hits the pillow, meditation will be a life changer! It sends me off for a decent 8 hour sleep which is the downtime I really need to hit the ground running the next morning. Literally.
Now, over to you! I’d love to hear what you do to keep yourself sane. Share your number one ritual over on Insta with me. Sending big love at this challenging time, keep your chin up and keep being the rockstar that you are xxx