7 Ways to Practice Self-Care while Social Distancing

Social distancing, self-quarantine or any other type of isolating practice can leave you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and stressed out. It's so important that you take care of yourself during this time and practicing daily acts of self-care is the best way to do that.

Here are 7 ways you can practice self-care while maintaining social distancing and hopefully feel a little better about each day.

1. Separate work and home - for those of us who normally work away from the home but are now working in our homes it can be hard to make a distinct separation between the two. If you have space, set up a designated work station and leave places like your bed, couch and dining room for home and family activities outside work hours. Setting specific work hours and sticking to a daily schedule can also help you separate work and home. 

2. Get quality sleep - working from home, or not working at all, can make it feel as though you can stay up late, sleep in and ignore your typical sleep schedule. Keeping a regular sleep schedule is important for your mental and physical health. Try to go to bed at a consistent time and wake up around the same time every day to keep those sleep habits fresh. Sleep masks are a great way to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep through the night.

3. Keep a productive schedule - it can be easy to fall into a mindless lull of work and sleep, but you have to remember to do things for yourself like showering, laundry, cleaning, and other acts of personal hygiene. Getting up and getting "ready" for work or your day can help you feel a sense of normalcy. You don't have to put on a suit or a full face of makeup, but things, like brushing your hair, washing your face and changing out of your pajamas, can have a great impact on your day.

4. Take some time to relax - tensions are high and morale is low, but you have to make time to relax. Take your extra free time to read a book, take up a new hobby, call loved ones, learn to cook or watch a movie. Carving out fun relaxation time will help you wind down from your day and take your mind off things for a little while. 

5. Pamper yourself a little - social distancing means limiting your contact to those outside your home and only venturing out for essential errands. That means many of us are missing things like haircuts, nail appointments, massages, and facials. Take some time every night or a couple of nights a week to have a little self-pampering time. Some great options include taking a hot bath, using a heat wrap, painting your nails, and meditating.

6. Stay active - social distancing doesn't mean you have to sit on the couch and binge-watch Netflix (but if you do we won't judge.) Staying active during social distancing is very important for your well-being. Some great ways to stay active indoors include yoga, home workout classes, and stretching. You can also exercise outdoors by going for a walk, jog or hike in your area. Just make sure you keep a 6-foot distance from others and wash your hands when you return home. 

7. Connect with loved ones (virtually) - social distancing can be hard if you're used to spending a lot of time with family and friends. Keep your spirits up and your loved ones safe by connecting virtually! Some great options include watching a movie together with Netflix Party, FaceTiming, having Google Hangouts or simply talking on the phone and texting. Keeping in contact with your loved ones will keep you from feeling alone and it will give you a chance to check in on everyone to see how they are doing.

No matter what you choose to do, make sure you're doing something for yourself in this time of social distancing. Wash your hands, stay home when possible and check in on your loved ones!

For more information on social distancing, proper self quarantining and COVID-19 please visit cdc.gov