3 signs that you need to up your self-care game during lock-down

Has the novelty of lie-ins long worn off?

Are your aches and pains coming back to haunt you?

Have you been gorging on entertainment snacks from your phone like never before?

Personally I am lucky enough to be on lock-down with 2 chefs and another therapist. It’s safe to say that we are looking after each other very well. And yet, in an effort to make the most of all of the top quality online coaching, workouts, and memes 😏 I have never spent so much time in front of the blue screen to the detriment of my self care. Below are some tell tale signs that your self-care game is also suffering:

1) You’re tired all the time

You’ve done nothing physically or mentally taxing all day and yet you have no energy for simple things like making the bed, or laundry. Pro tip: You need to spend energy to make energy. Often, the thought of the effort required to do something is more of an obstacle than the actual energy spent for said activity. Persevere and you’ll find that not only did you have the energy required to complete that task, you can keep going.

2) Hours bleed into days

You’ve got all these DIY projects that you can finally finish… First, a couple of episodes of [insert Netflix series here]… will start tomorrow. Before you know it, it’s the beginning of next week. Pro tip: Structure and discipline will set you free. This may sound counter-intuitive but knowing how your day is going to go greatly reduces the potential of decision fatigue (yes, it’s a thing!) and subsequent frustration at achieving none of those things on your to-do list.

3) Increased pain & anxiety

There’s no hiding from the fact that we’re not getting enough activity. Lack of movement increases pain which leads to further lack of movement for fear of injury/breaking something. Pro tip: Pain is created by the brain as a protective response to perceived danger. Our experience of pain is influenced by our emotional state, beliefs & expectations, and sense of control (among many other psychological & sociological factors). Tissue damage really is only part of the picture. In these uncertain times it’s easier than ever to venture down the rabbit hole of negativity and helplessness. If you catch yourself, interrupt the negative thought pattern by doing something that puts you in a positive state of mind and inspires you to move. At this point small and simple is powerful. 

If you notice yourself in any of the above know that it’s OK to not feel OK, especially now. This will pass. The art of touch is my passion and I can’t wait to be done with social distancing so I can get my hands on people! In the meantime I’m offering free 1-2-1 sessions to anyone who wants to stay connected and limber. 10-15 mins of active stretching & self-massage on Zoom.