Best Self-Care Habits to Boost Your Mood When Stuck at Home
If you are feeling blue during quarantine (trust us, we’ve been there) there are a few ways to perk up by giving yourself some extra love and care. Not only can you practice self-care at home (often, for free), but with these tips you can create a great routine to put in place. Even after you’re free to go outside again.
Having a self-care ritual in place and taking regular time for yourself to unwind and nourish your mind, body, and soul can keep your spirits higher, leading to greater wellness and satisfaction throughout the day. So, pick out a few beneficial habits and see how they affect your mood! If you are feeling relaxed and happy after meditating or taking a bubble bath then it was surely worthwhile as a mood booster. Here are a couple of habits you can try incorporating when you’re stuck at home for that lift.
Have a Solo Dance Party
Turning on your favorite tunes (for me, it’s some EDM on super high volume), and letting your body go wild in movement, with zero inhibitions, can help you feel liberated and alive. Dance like no one is watching! (And unless you are living with someone who is joining you, no one is.) It’s also a good workout, so you will get your heart rate up and burn some calories while having fun. And since that blood is flowing, you are boosting endorphins—those feel-good hormones that lead to happiness.
Take a Warm Bath—Wine Optional
Run the water, throw in some bubbles or scents, like lavender or eucalyptus, if you like, and take a nice and long bath to unwind. You can put on some relaxing music, light a candle, or pour a glass or two of wine if you like. Do whatever makes you feel most at peace during this time. If a bath isn’t your thing, you can also take a warm shower and use that cleansing time as a way to be with yourself and to take a break from the day to relax and feel the warmth on your skin.
Write in a Journal
Writing in a journal or showing gratitude through exercises or storytelling can enhance your mood and make you feel more appreciative for the positive things you do have in your life—and this is definitely needed when you are stuck inside all day and feel a bit blue. You can keep the journal as a personal diary and write in entries before getting out of bed in the morning or before hitting the hay. Just make sure it’s a regular habit so you can stick with it and reap the rewards. Journals can also be entertaining to read in the future.
Do Yoga or Meditation
Another option? Take time to do a gratitude meditation or yoga flow. Both will provide the same mental and self-care benefits, and they may even get your body moving too, depending on the form. You can use an app to find a guided option or practice your own technique. You can practice first thing in the morning or before bed—or try for midday. It will get you out of that afternoon rut and set you back on track to power through the rest of the day. Besides, if you’re fortunate enough to not be sick, you should have plenty of extra time to finally get around to learning how to meditate. And we could all use a little calming in our lives right now.
Workout at Home
Just because you cannot make it to the gym right now, it does not mean you need to ditch your daily sweat session. There are tons of free streaming options for home workouts—from barre and Pilates to HIIT, boxing, and more. Have fun exploring the options and trying new workouts, perhaps some you have never tried before.
The endorphin boost will improve mood, and the workout itself and blood flow will help energize your mind and body to feel healthy and happy in general. Plus, it keeps you fit and well, because eventually we’ll be going back outside.
