bideas:

Remember about physical self-care as well, which greatly affects our mental health…

- Stay hydrated! Get a glass of water right now if you need to

- Have you eaten yet today? Make yourself a healthy snack. If you don’t have supplies for a meal and can’t leave the house for health reasons, consider getting take out. It’s not lazy or greedy.

- Apply lip balm/chap stick at regular intervals

- When was the last time you showered/cleaned? If you do not have the energy for a full shower, consider buying some dry shampoo and having a ‘sink’ shower using a sponge or wet wipes

- Similar to the last point, evaluate the cleanliness of your clothing and bedding. If you’ve been wearing the same outfit over and over again the last few days, it may be worth changing. Similarly, avoid issues like bed bugs and bacteria by changing you bed sheets.

- Consider adding supplements to your diet. (Disclaimer: I’m no doctor, but I take omega 3 and folate tablets as well as multi-vitamins to help boost my physical and mental health. Check with your doctor before adding these to your diet, especially if you are on other medication)

- Have you taken any required medication today? Consider getting a pill tray/dispenser/tracker to help your schedule and to make sure you don’t forget

- Feeling too oily? try just giving your face a quick wash. Feeling too dry? take time to moisturise

- Do a full body check. it is easy to wanna just lay in bed and forget all other problems, but be sure to take the time to check for lumps, bumps and grumps. Make a list of any physical symptoms and talk to your doctor. This also applies to any potential side effects or symptoms of your current medication.

- If you are physically able to, give your legs/body a stretch. This could be you just walk around your room or go for a jog outside. Maybe even just remember to adjust your posture when sitting. It’s important to get your joints moving if you can to prevent issues like decreased flexibility and cramp

- Similar to the last point, try to exercise. Exercise is proven to help with mental and physical health; don’t just do it for weight related pressures. Find a workout/type of exercise you can bare. I personally suggest yoga (with the help from youtube instructors).

- Are you sleepy? Consider how much sleep you have had in the last 48 hours. An adult should on average get around 8 hours of sleep per day. If it is drastically less, consider having an early night. If it is drastically more, consider reevaluating your sleep routine. Oversleeping can make us feel lethargic and sometimes even more tired. If you are having trouble sleeping and on medication, consider the time of day you are taking the meds.