Every once in a while, you may find yourself living through turbulent times whether it is a personal crisis, familial or a professional one. Life is full of ups and downs, after all, and sometimes things that seemed normal before can feel overwhelming and challenging. 2020 has been hard for so many people on so many different levels and we hope that respite is in sight in the months that follow.

The BBC reports that twice as many adults in the UK are reporting symptoms of depression this year when compared with the same period in 2019. Worries about the pandemic, the economic recession, and other social and economic issues have led to higher numbers of stress and depressive symptoms in populations all over the world. 

Times like these can be rough, and it’s important to make sure that you’re treating yourself with the care you deserve. We’ve previously discussed taking ‘A Mindful Approach to Self-Care’, and learning to listen to what your mind and body need. Today, we’ll take at a few ways you can support your mind and body. Please feel free to add to this list or pick one or a few that resonate best with you.  

Eat Healthy + Mindfully
One of the kindest you can do for your body when you’re going through a rough time is to make sure you’re eating enough, eating often and eating without distractions. This isn’t always easy, of course — sometimes the challenge is budget, sometimes it’s time, and other times it’s motivation to cook and eat healthy food. 

I’m always scouring the web looking for ways to batch prep so it makes cooking easier and more time efficient. Othertimes, when I am feeling pressed for time or feeling too tired to cook, I might order in a warm, comforting, wholesome meal from a local restaurant.

If you need some inspiration, here’s a comprehensive list of comforting recipes from 20 different blogs put together by Nutrition Stripped. With a wide range of meals, including healthy yet affordable options, you’re sure to find something that will work for you. 

Support Your Body 
Sometimes it can take a lot of work to prepare healthy meals for you and your family and you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you don’t always feel up to the task. While, we recommend getting your vital nutrients from food sources as far as possible, a supplement can help support you + make sure you’re getting the vitamins and nutrients you need.

Brightcore’s Radiance vitamin D3 supplement is an excellent choice for boosting immunity and energy, especially if you aren’t getting enough sun. Vitamin D is essential for a strong immune system and proper calcium absorption, and can even boost your mood. Reminder to get your vitamin levels checked at least once a year and to check with your general physician + nutritionist to see how much and how often you should take this.

Set a Routine 
Sometimes, days melt into one another and without a semblance of a routine, days turn into weeks which turn into months. Routines add structure and balance to our lives, allowing seemingly insurmountable problems to look achievable. If you’re not the type to write things down, then a habits-tracking app may be the right fit for you. 

A fun example is Habitica, an app designed to look like a roleplaying game. Each to-do list item is set up like a little quest, offering small in-game rewards whenever you finish a task. Plus, it’s available on both iOS and Android, so you can invite friends to play along. 

Disconnect

Sometimes, the news coming in from all over the world+ continuous social media updates can seem a tad overwhelming and scary. It is perfectly okay to unplug from your devices and spend time offline. Take this time to spend time at home with your loved ones, cook a meal together or sit around and play board games, go out to the park for a long walk (with a mask, of course) and evoke the sense of smell with familiar scents through soy candles and diffusers to help you decompress. Remember, the internet will be around tomorrow or whenever you decide to come back from your break. Your mind+ body will thank you for this:)

Practice Mindfulness 
Finally, one of the best things you can do is to practice mindfulness. Sometimes you’ll encounter situations where the only way out is through. Tackling problems is daunting for anyone but taking time to become anchored+ rooted in the present will help you become more resilient and mindful and take on challenges a little bit better.

The Independent recommends the app Calm as its best buy, but you can find other affordable options on their list. Finding the mindfulness app that’s best suited to your habits and lifestyle is essential, and a yearly app payment is more affordable than a class.

If all of this seems too daunting, just practice mindfulness in the tiniest moments. When you wake up in the morning to make yourself a cup of tea, leave your phone behind and engage your senses as it brews and changes colour. Observe the steam coming through. Sit down in a quiet area of your home and sip your tea or hot beverage in silence. You could look out of a window or just cozy up on the couch with a blanket. Remember, you can be mindful several times a day in the tiniest ways.

While there are many many ways to give yourself a little grace and a little extra love, I really hope some of these resonated with you. Look after yourselves x