4 Ways to Prioritize Self-Care When You’re Always at Home

By Brian Acton

The term “self-care” took on a new significance in 2020 when the pandemic and shutdowns caused a new level of stress for millions of Americans. Prioritizing self-care when you rarely leave your home is easier said than done, especially when you’re juggling work, school, kids, and other responsibilities.

Self-care can take many different forms, but essentially it comes down to doing things that boost your mental or physical wellbeing. No matter how busy or unmotivated you’re feeling, it’s important to take some time for yourself when you can. Here are four ways to prioritize self-care when you’re always at home.

1. Put It on the Calendar

Self-care could mean working out, meditating, going to therapy, listening to music, and just about anything else that helps your wellbeing. No matter what you do to unwind or promote your own health, it’s tough to find time when you’re trying to work at home, get your kids to attend virtual school, or just stay motivated during an intensely stressful period in history.

You can help yourself find the time for self-care by scheduling it on your calendar. Whether you keep a paper calendar on your wall or a digital calendar in the cloud, block off time for self-care. When you have it built into your schedule, you’re much more likely to keep your self-care appointment. Don’t sabotage yourself by scheduling a work meeting at the same time or ignoring your notification to do something else.

If your calendar is packed, just look for 10 or 15-minute blocks of time to get some “you” time. Once you’ve made it a habit to schedule regular self-care appointments, it will be easier to maintain your routine.

2. Use a Relaxation Aid

Can’t get to the massage therapist, spa or wherever you go to get to your happy place? Odds are there are a few products you can buy to recreate the experience at home, even if it’s not quite the same. A few suggestions include:

• Getting some workout equipment to build a basic home gym.
• Purchasing a home massager product like the Jeanie Rub Massager to work out tight muscles and loosen up your body.
• Setting yourself up with a bath bomb, aromatic candles, and a Corpak Eye Mask Compress for a home spa treatment that helps reduce tension, pain, and headaches.

3. Take a Class

With the wealth of resources available via the internet and apps, you don’t need to go anywhere to join a meditation class, group workout session, yoga class, and more. The number of options you have is virtually unlimited.

You can watch free workout classes on YouTube, download a meditation or workout app, or purchase a home fitness DVD set. There are pre-recorded and live instruction options available. While it may not fully replace the feeling of community or detailed instruction you get from an in-person class, it can help motivate and inspire you more than if you were trying to engage in these activities completely solo.

4. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Getting quality sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your body. When you don’t get enough sleep you may feel chronically tired, experience weight gain or excessive food cravings, feel moody, have trouble focusing on tasks, and even experience depression. In other words, getting a good night’s rest is both a form of self-care and a way to help you practice other types of self-care during the day. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, there are many things you can do:

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day to help your body maintain its circadian rhythm.
• Get a better pillow. Uncomfortable pillows can cause you to toss and turn and even lead to neck pain and stiffness. Get a quality cervical pillow that can help you maintain proper spinal alignment.
• Ditch the electronics. The blue light emitted by electronics can inhibit the production of melatonin, which helps you fall asleep. Avoid electronics before bed.
• Block out the light. Too much outside light can wake you up or prevent you from getting consistent deep sleep. Make sure your bedroom is dark.
• Establish an exercise routine. Consistent exercise will reduce stress and tire you out, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.