Are you feeling irritable and frustrated being in lockdown?
If you’re someone who was used to working from an office or going out to meet friends, it’s especially hard when you’re forced to stay in the house for so many days.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or a mom who works from home, you need to practice self-care so you can take better care of yourself and your family.
Here are some self-care tips to keep yourself sane and mentally healthy during the lockdown:
As women, our responsibilities in lockdown are even more stressful than when we’re working outside the home.
Firstly, not having a maid to do the jhaadu-pocha is hard, especially if your family is not willing to chip in and do the chores themselves.
But very often we are the ones taking on too much responsibility ourselves because we’ve bought into the myth of being “superwomen.”
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities, slow down and take a decision to not be perfect.
Nothing is so urgent that it cannot wait until you’re in a better frame of mind.
If you don’t feel like cooking, order take out and ensure you follow all hygiene practices to serve it safely.
If you don’t feel like helping your kids with their homework, hire an online tutor to help them.
Trying to be a superwoman and do it all will just lead to depression and burnout.
Yes, it is hard to train your husband and kids to help out.
But we often make things harder for ourselves because we’re so attached to a certain way of doing things.
Since all our lives have been disrupted anyway, this is the perfect time to inculcate new habits in our family and encourage them to take over some of your household chores.
Stop obsessing that they’re not “doing it right.” If you want them to help out, you have to give up the idea of doing things “your way” or of “getting it perfect.”
As the saying goes, “Done is better than perfect.”
Appreciate your husband and kids whenever they help out. Thank them for their help and they will be willing to do more.
As a mom, we’re always doing things for others, whether in our careers or home.
Ensure you get some me time in the day to do the things you love and that recharge your batteries.
Whether it’s meditating, working out, or watching your favourite serials on Netflix or TV, make your “Me” time as important as the time you spend taking care of others.
Lack of sleep not only makes us irritable but causes weight gain, depression and a number of other health issues.
Getting those 7 to 8 hours of sleep every day is even more important in lockdown because it helps us manage the rest of the day calmly and without fatigue.
Whether it’s on a conference call with your gal pals or playing board games with your kids, bonding with your loved ones will keep away loneliness.
Set aside a time every day to spend quality time with the ones you love.
Aside from the news that affects your daily life, such as announcements about what provisions are available in your neighborhood, avoid the negative news on social media or television.
You’ll just end up getting anxious and panicky about things that you have no control over.
The serenity prayer is a beautiful statement that helps us make a distinction between the things we need to concern ourselves with and the things we don’t.
Here’s how it goes:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
Repeat this to yourself whenever you find yourself getting anxious or panicky over things that you have no control over.