If you’re in Victoria or New South Wales, you’re probably in stage two of the lockdown. Though a trying and somewhat discouraging period for us Southerners, it is necessary for the greater good. You’ve probably found a groove since lockdown v1, but please, don’t forget to add self-care to your daily mix. Your mental and physical health is at stake. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite self-care tips to keep you happy and healthy during lockdown.
Healthy diet
Of course you are what you eat. Great mental and physical health starts from within. As tempting as it is to reach for Tim Tams when you’re stuck inside, you’ll be much better off stocking up on the good stuff.
Typical behaviors they were all guilty of during lockdown were grazing during the day, reaching for sweets at 3pm and drinking more than usual. It is also understandable why food and alcohol fill a void.
If you’re looking for a no-fuss way to stay on track, just swap out sweets, processed foods and alcohol for 5 out of 7 days. Fill in:
- Oats are rich in antioxidants and fiber
- Beans and legumes that are full of protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, folate, calcium, potassium and zinc
- Leafy greens that can reduce your risk for obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure
- Fruits are an excellent source of essential nutrients such as potassium, fiber, vitamin C and folate.
And if you still crave sugar or salt? Choose natural, minimally processed options.
Mindfulness
The stress surrounding the pandemic, the added pressure of being cut off from your support network, and loneliness are all very real situations that can make the happiest of us feel less vibrant.
Practicing mindfulness brings your power back to the now instead of worrying about the future and living in the past. Not sure how to do it? We found some great tips for practicing mindfulness from Headspace.
- Notice your breathing. Take five slow, deep breaths in and out.
- Go for a nature walk. Pay attention to your movement and connect with it.
- Avoid doing too many things at once. Instead, pick one task and do it slowly.
- Create a calendar. Use it to jot down your thoughts when you’re feeling scattered.
- Use free mindfulness apps to guide you:
Strong body
You know what they say, strong body = strong mind. Exercise, as we know, releases endorphins known as the happy hormone. Keeping your body and mind in balance is even more important during lockdown. If your usual gym or class isn’t open due to restrictions, there are plenty of home workouts you can do in your own home.
Our favorites are:
- Sweat by Kayla Itsines features high and low intensity workouts for both beginners and intermediates.
- Peaches Pilates offers every style of workout including Pilates, Boxing, Yoga, HIIT, Weights and Barre just to name a few!
- TiffXO combines high- and low-intensity training in super-fast workout formats, or if you have more time, there’s an extended version of each. As a bonus, mindfulness and meditation classes are available.
Shiny skin
You don’t need a professional facial for glowing skin. Our natural skincare line is formulated for home use and better yet, it works. Take an hour and show yourself some TLC. Our favorite refreshing facial is easy to do yourself and we’ve included the steps below.
- Clean with our olive cream cleanser. This will remove impurities while soothing the skin. This hydrating cleanser won’t dry out your skin in the winter, in fact, it gives you a great boost of hydration.
- Give your skin a glow with our soothing Hydrating Facial Mist.
- Exfoliate making sure to pay close attention to the corners of your mouth and forehead. This will prepare your skin for your mask.
- Apply a thin layer of Radiant Rose Mask to your skin and relax for 30 minutes.
- Finally, add a few drops of the Olive Skin Serum to your skin, followed by the Boost Balancing Moisturizer to complete your routine.
This is best done at night so your skin can continue the rejuvenation process while you sleep.
Above all, stay strong!
Marissa h
