I can safely say we all thought this pandemic will definitely allow us more ‘me’ time and help us focus more on our physical and mental health but honestly whether it is online classes and assignments or hectic schedules of work from home, it leaves little time for us to spend on ourselves. 

 

Especially since we are working from our own houses it leaves the line between academic/ professional and personal life very blurred and in the end, we end up not focusing on our health - mental and physical-  enough. 

 

Since I was adamant about incorporating some self-care and self-love routines I thought of some easy and quick ways I can do that and decided to share that with you. 

 

1.Aromatherapy:

​

This is a very common and easy way to instantly change your mood to make you feel active or to help you wind down after a tiring day. I cannot explain how many times this has helped me - on days when I have no energy to work or feel extremely drained out or when I just want something extra to help me relax and fall asleep. 

 

The smell and fragrance around us affect our mood to a great extent. Just select the fragrance you like and go with that. Aromatherapy doesn’t necessarily mean you have to light up 20 expensive candles or spend a fortune on exotic potpourri or indulge in pricey essential oils. If that is something you want to do then go ahead but aromatherapy can also be just a small single candle of the fragrance of your liking or even incense sticks or just spritzing some perfume on your pillow before you go to sleep. 

 

Just surround yourself with the aroma that calms you to help you relax. You will start feeling the shift in your mood instantly. 

 

2. Read More:

​

Even with an extremely busy schedule, find as little as 10 minutes to read for leisure. I personally thought I would be able to read a lot more in this pandemic but it was actually the opposite. I was just so overwhelmed with the new system of work and classes and just getting accustomed to it took me more time than I initially thought. 

 

Nevertheless, reading not for studies or work but reading something that you like helps you separate your work life from your personal life. It also helps you take a break when your mind is saturated with work. I can’t explain how many times when I was overwhelmed with studies or assignments, I took a break and read a few pages from a novel, and when I got back to my studies, I had a fresh mind and new perspective which helped me get back on track. 

 

And when I talk about reading, I don’t necessarily mean a 500- 900 pages heavy-hearted book (but if that’s your go-to like mine, then go ahead). It can be comics, magazines, or web novels, anything that makes you happy.  

 

3. Meditate:

​

This is another common and widely used method of self-care. This not only helps you in your mental health but also physical health. It helps you with maintaining a good posture, makes you more acute of your senses, and also helps in getting more in tune with your body.

 

Meditation is also a very good way to take small breaks between a hectic schedule. Morning meditations are the best and it helps you kick start your day with a fresh perspective but taking 5-minute meditation breaks while listening to some calm music between classes, meetings, or even just when you feel overwhelmed are equally revitalizing for your body, mind, and soul. 

 

4. Journal:

​

Ranting helps a lot. I am just going to put that out there. We all have that person in our lives who we vent to when we are overwhelmed or distressed. Journalling is similar. Just instead of speaking, you write down your thoughts. I cannot explain how helpful I have found this to be for me personally. 

 

You might think if you have a person to vent it out to then why write it down? Well in our daily lives some things may seem crucial to us but may not be as crucial or vital to others so there is always a chance the other person may not understand what you’re feeling to the full extent.  Also, when you write down your problems or things that irk you, in the process, you also discover things that you are grateful for which further helps you in solving the problems you’re facing. 

 

5. Indulge: 

​

When I say indulge I don’t necessarily mean unhealthy snacks or bad habits. Indulgence can be food for you like that piece of chocolate cake or a good cup of coffee but it can also be that one pair of shoes you have been meaning to buy but have not till now or taking that trip to a place you really wanted to but have put off because of your schedule. 

 

What I basically mean is give in to your desires once in a while even if it breaks you off your track for a short period. In the long run, it will help rebuild and re-energize your mind and body.