You don’t really need me to tell you that 2020 has been quite a year.  Although restrictions have been generally eased in the UK, for months we shut ourselves away from our families and friends in an attempt to protect ourselves and each other from a virus that has wreaked havoc across the world, on a scale that is unprecedented in modern times.

Taking into account the resulting loneliness, not to mention the understandable anxiety you may have for your own safety and for that of your family, it’s no wonder that many are feeling the mental strain of this year.

However, maybe not all hope is lost.  That’s what Leslie Dwight, author of the “What if 2020 isn’t cancelled?” poem that recently took the internet by storm, would argue.

Her message certainly resonates with me.  During lockdown I started and graduated from The Body Coach’s 90 Day Plan.  Without the lockdown, suddenly free from my commute to and from work, I don’t believe I would have achieved this.  I suddenly had more time for exercise and healthy meal prepping and I finally lost the weight around my middle that I had tried and failed many times on my own to lose.  I only just appreciated recently that, if coronavirus really is here for the long-term, then it has never been more important to look after your health, and I’m grateful I used the time in lockdown to put my health and wellbeing before anything else.  I’ll do a separate post on my 90 Day Plan journey.

So, on this year’s World Mental Health Day, ask yourself, what does self care mean to you?

My own self care story starts with a particularly painful break up which prompted me to buy and read (try not to cringe too hard on my behalf) a self help book on the subject.  The book has a whole chapter on self care and it was this part of the book that inspired me the most, it being something that I still hold on to today.  From then on I vowed not to overlook important aspects of my own wellbeing and to be my own best friend.  I didn’t need to focus on what my ex was doing (and who he may be seeing or why I wasn’t good enough in comparison to other girls, etc, etc).  What was I doing?  I saw from then that no one would take better care of me than me.  Contrary to feeling lonely at this realisation, instead it made me happy.

And the best thing is, self care doesn’t have to cost anything.  Here are some of the things I do to practice self care and to look after my physical and mental wellbeing.  I hope it gives you inspiration!

• Exercise and/or yoga.  I do this from the comfort of my own home and all I need is a Smart TV (for connecting to YouTube to find videos to follow along to) and an exercise mat.

• Healthy eating

• Equally as important as the above, wine and takeaways in moderation!

• Go for a walk.  Autumn is my favourite time of year to get out more.

• Treat yourself to coffee.  A Starbucks recently opened within walking distance to my flat which means one thing this time of year, lots of pumpkin spiced lattes!

• Read a book.  I love losing myself in a good story.

• Journal.  I bought a nice notebook at the start of 2020 (before I knew what was to come) and have used it to spill all my feelings throughout this extraordinary year.

• Light a nice scented candle.  Autumn is candle season!

• Tidy your room and/or living space.  Something I’m appreciating more and more lately is that I feel calmer and happier when my surroundings are clean, tidy and organised.

• Listen to your favourite music.  There’s a few playlists on Spotify that I love like ‘Autumn Leaves’ and ‘Easy’, perfect for chilling out.  If there’s a song that’s stood out for me recently, it’s “What They’ll Say About Us” by Finneas.  Do you ever hear a song with lyrics that are actually meaningful and interesting, prompting you to Google it to learn more about it?  This song did that for me.  The singer said in a statement that it was written for anyone suffering from the effects of the cataclysmic events of this year; he was inspired after attending a protest rally and also by the story of actor Nick Cordero, who very sadly passed away after battling coronavirus, leaving behind his wife and baby son.  I thought it was so moving and definitely a song to remember.

• Lastly, for me, nothing beats an early night with Netflix!

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