This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.
With everything going on in the world right now with the election and COVID-19 (among other things), it’s so important to take time for yourself to take a break from things. Here are just a few ways you can practice self-care without having to leave your house.
Make a face mask
And no I’m not talking about the face masks you wear now for the pandemic, but the kind that clears your pores and makes your skin feel smoother. There are lots of masks you can make with ingredients you already have, like an avocado hydrating face mask or one with honey that’s good for helping with dark spots on your skin.
Write down your thoughts
Photo by My Life Journal from Unsplash
This year (with everything going on) I’ve begun journaling and writing down what’s been on my mind and it’s been so helpful. It’s therapeutic to write down what’s been bothering you, what you want to improve on, or anything else you might want to add. It’s for your benefit, so add in whatever you want.
Listen to music
Photo by Icons8 Team from Unsplash
Music of any sort is calming, and now is the perfect time to create a new playlist for the fall or holiday season. I recently made a new playlist for a relaxing vibe called “those days.” Here are some songs I liked that you might want to add to your playlist too:
“Strawberries” by Caamp
“Don’t Start Now” by Penny & Sparrow (Yes, this is a cover of the original song by Dua Lipa)
“no song without you” by HONNE
“Navy Blue” by Hasani
“The Kitchen” by Tow’rs
Read a book
Photo by Kelly Arnold from Unsplash
If you have the time, reading a book can be soothing and help to calm down your mind. I got a Kindle during quarantine; it’s life-changing and much easier to read on because you can change the font size too.
Light a candle
There are all kinds of candle scents that are calming. One I’ve been into recently is a pine scent, it reminds me of the holiday season. Another favorite is Calming Waves that my roommate bought, but there are lots out there.
Reorganize
Photo by Burst from Pexels
Sometimes all you need to do is clean your room, or move around some furniture to feel better. It can also make your space feel new again if you’ve been getting bored of your space while WFH.
Binge-watch
Photo by freestocks from Unsplash
During this time, I’ve been into both rewatching and starting new shows that are especially light-hearted. Some of my favorites are “New Girl” and “Schitt’s Creek” (I really recommend this show AND it won 9 Emmys).
Going through these times can be difficult, but I hope you can take some time to practice self-care!
Lyla is a senior at UMass Amherst. She is studying both Communication and Journalism and is currently a Senior Editor, Multimedia Director, and Twitter Coordinator for HC at UMass Amherst. When she is not busy working, she spends her time writing, singing, reading new books, walking outside, and making matcha lattes. She was born and raised in Boston, MA.
