I asked a whole bunch of people on Instagram to share with me how they are navigating this period of uncertainty and as I was reading their responses, I realised that there is no right way to approach this. There is no one solution. No one-size-fits-all regimen.

Somedays, you will wake up feeling tired and will want to stay in bed all day and on others, you will put on pants, do your hair, get some writing done and finish washing those dishes in the sink.

Self Care today should be as basic, as simple as possible but most of all, it should not put pressure on you and me. It should be easy to incorporate with things that we have in the house within arms reach. It shouldn’t be daunting or tedious or too time consuming… Most of all, it shouldn’t stress you out but it should become a way for you to unwind and decompress.

Somedays, I just listen to music, cuddle with my dog and read books in bed like this GIF right here:)

I also find that going into the kitchen to rummage through my cupboards for ingredients to cook with is extremely calming and cathartic.. somedays, we make one pot dishes and other times, we bake banana bread and chocolate muffins. I have also begun to really enjoy the ritual of making myself and my mama adrak chai.

It could be putting your feet up and watching a documentary with your partner, or playing scrabble with the kids, it could be a luxurious head massage you give yourself right before you go to bed or dancing on your balcony.

I find that during this time, it is our duty to make life a little bit simpler and to make do with what we already have access to without worrying about what we can’t do as that often adds to the stress. Nobody needs any added stress at this time.

These are messy, difficult, stressful and uncertain times for all of us in more ways than one. We do not need to guilt ourselves or other people on how they should be coping so if you choose to do a lot or nothing at all- both are equally okay.

What we can do from the comfortable confines of our home is to dive deep into our toolbox- into gratitude, strength, generosity and resilience.  If you are able, please donate to those that don’t have access to food, clean running water, medicines and emergency supplies. There are several organisations like Goonj, Feeding India, Give India and Uday Foundation. Every little bit counts and wherever possible, please reach out to others and ask them to help in any way possible.

Sit down in silence for a few minutes every day by yourself, with your partner or your kids and just spend a few moments appreciating and being grateful for what you already have. Think of all of the things that you have got going for you. A roof over your head, food to eat, good health, a support system and people you can count on. Now turn this into a ritual by making it a diligent practice. Try and write down the things you are most grateful for and who you would like to say thanks to in a notebook before you go to sleep every night. Try and revisit older entries whenever you get the time. When we become grateful for what we have, we become open to receiving too.

Schedule time to do NOTHING. I know this sounds counterintuitive but spending time away from your chores and your devices for a few hours or even a whole day is GOOD FOR YOU. We have all grown so accustomed to this ‘hustle and grind culture’ and ‘buzyness’ that we start to feel guilty if we sit and do nothing for a little while..I stumbled upon a beautiful Dutch word called ‘niksen‘ that advocates spending time doing nothing. Grab a throw or a blanket and curl up with tea, sit and gaze out of a window, or just get comfy on the sofa without any gadgets or devices. Sometimes, self care is the simplest stuff that we wouldn’t even think of. It is in the understanding that we are human beings not human doings and we have to allow ourselves to just ‘be’ every once in a while without micromanaging, fretting about the future or obsessing over what could or should have happened.

I have to say this but switch off the news and put away you phone at bedtime, the blue light and the constant barrage of notifications and bad news isn’t helping you or your sleep. Also, when you scroll on social media, you will be swamped with motivational messages trying to trick you into believing that you are not doing enough with this time. DO NOT BELIEVE THEM! You have to do what comes to you, naturally. Remember, this is not a competition and you do not need to do what everyone else is doing in order to feel good about yourself. Please please encourage your loved ones to step away from the phone before you go to bed at night.

Oh and if you have access to a roof, a garden or a balcony, step outdoors and just let the sun bathe you. I promise, it is great for your bones+ your mood+ your mental health… and being outdoors while being at home will nourish you from the inside out. 

Take Care and Be Safe and take it one baby step at a time

ALSO, My talented cousin, Angad is working on an initiative called Projekt Gratitude and he will be illustrating with examples on how best to incorporate gratitude into your daily life. Stay Tuned for more <3