8 Ways to Do Self-Care During Self-Quarantine

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Start a Gratitude Journal

Even though you’re stuck in self-isolation, there are many things in your life to be grateful for. To express your thanks, write down a few things you’re grateful for each day (here’s a template to help you get started). Studies even show that reflecting on the things you’re grateful can increase your overall mood and happiness.

At the end of this isolation period, review your gratitude journal and take note of how you’re feeling.

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Make a Homemade Face Mask

Whip up a face mask using natural ingredients you already have in your kitchen.  Homemade face masks are not only great for pampering yourself but also for soothing the skin.

A go-to glow-boosting mask Andrea Dinnick, founder of the luxury, vegan green beauty brand Desavery, swears by is made with pomegranate, honey, olive oil, and oatmeal. Pomegranate (an antioxidant) hydrates skin, protects it from the environment, and boasts anti-aging benefits. Oatmeal soothes skin and features anti-inflammatory properties.

Ingredients (for one mask):

• 2 tbsp. pomegranate seeds
• 1 tsp. good quality honey
• 1 tsp. good quality olive oil
• 1-2 tsp. of rice flour or oatmeal

Directions:

• Mash or muddle pomegranate seeds, honey, and olive oil together in a bowl or with a mortar and pestle. (Split open the pomegranate seeds to get their juices flowing.) Add the rice flour or oatmeal to create a thick paste.
• Apply to cleansed face, avoiding the eye area.
• Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off.

For more recipes, check out these DIY face masks created by some of Canada’s top skin and wellness experts.

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Complete an At-Home Workout

To keep up your fitness routine during this isolation period, all you need is a resistance band to get in a full-body workout. Resistance bands allow you to work your muscles from different angles, which is great if this is the only piece of equipment you have on hand. Here a few of our favourite resistance band workouts:

• Try this 10-minute tuneup mini-band workout, by Brett Bishop
• Try this five ways resistance band workout, by Greg Harvey
• Have a couple dumbbells at home? Try this strength-building resistance band workout, by Jennifer Lau

(Ever tried animal flow? Check out this ground-based workout that requires zero equipment.)

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Download an App to Help Calm the Mind

Wellness apps are a great way to help find your zen and prevent anxiety from completely taking over—especially while you’re in self-isolation. And although there’s no adequate replacement for in-person care with a mental health professional, mind-soothing apps that feature guided breathing exercises or calming activities can be an effective aid to help manage symptoms of anxiety.

Here are some apps that encourage mindfulness, dissipate negativity, inspire gratitude, target insomnia, and offer solutions to common worries.

• To help you sleep
• To tend to your mental health
• To reflect and practice gratitude
• To soothe the mind
• To address your money woes

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Exfoliate From Top to Toe with Homemade Scrubs

There’s something about exfoliating your body that gives you a feeling of relaxation. Not to mention, it can be essential during the cold months of the year when skin tends to be on the dry and flaky side. Ready to give your skin a buff? There’s no need to order a scrub online—they can easily be made at home.

Save the coffee grounds after brewing a pot of Joe, and use them as the star ingredient for your scrub. (Coffee grounds have a ton of beauty benefits. They can help brighten skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite, to name a few). Here’s how to make a coffee ground scrub:

1. Mix a few tablespoons of brewed coffee grounds with equal parts course sugar, and a tablespoon of coconut oil.
2. Wet your skin and rub the wet paste onto it.
3. Rinse well.

Also, check out the best homemade foot scrubs and give yourself an at-home pedi.

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Morning Yoga for an Energy Boost

Lacking motivation and energy when working from home? Try yoga. Yes, it’s known for its soothing effects, but it can also help boost your energy. The trick is to begin your practice with a few gentle back bend poses, such as Extended Mountain, Upward Dog and Bridge. By extending the spine, you open up tight chest muscles, which allows you to breathe deeper. This deep breathing is what fosters mental alertness and energy within the physical body.

(In need of a new mat? These are the top-rated yoga mats on Amazon.)

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Make a Healthy Comfort Food

If you’re able to get to a grocery store safely or have groceries delivered to your home, make your favourite comfort food but with a nutritious twist. While most of us tend to resort to not-so-healthy foods for comfort, healthy foods are actually proven to provide comfort too. According to Psychology Today, healthy food swaps can increase emotional well-being, causing a decrease in stress and anxiety.

Opt for blueberry sorbet instead of regular ice cream, cauliflower pizza instead of its traditional counterpart, or homemade mac and cheese instead of a box of KD

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Create a Habit of Practising a Daily Meditation

A daily meditation can do wonders for your health. Some of the immediate effects include: better perspective on one’s life, a wiser mind and less-stagnant energy—all factors that can help you deal better with what your day brings. (Psst: Make sure you know these meditation mistakes that can actually stress you out.)

In order to get in the habit of practising a daily meditation, here are a few tips you may find helpful:

• Start your meditation first thing in the morning when your mind is fresh.
• Sit cross-legged on a cushion or yoga block, or on a chair that allows you to hold your spine in an erect position.
• Focus your attention on the breath. Just breathe naturally, in and out.
• If you get distracted, bring yourself back to the present moment by silently counting at the end of each out breath. For example, breathe in, out, count one; breathe in, out, count two; breathe in, out, count three. Continue to five, then begin from the top.
• Most importantly, don’t judge yourself or your thought process. Try to cultivate the ability to observe what you are thinking, rather than trying to stop the thoughts.

Next, check out the best activities for self-isolation that can boost your wellbeing.