Self-Care During the Global Pandemic

Self-care is not selfish. The current state of the world with the Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainties caused by it, is creating anxiety and stress to many of us. Focusing on what makes us feel nourished and on what gives us meaning, is part of easing those feelings and giving us a more solid foundation. The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way we live, from our work, to our learning and to our social lives. Our new reality poses a unique set of challenges for all of us. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care is the ‘ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health care provider’. 

Self-care is not a new concept, and it has been in use for hundreds of years. However, in the world where wellness influencers and the quick access and spread of information is the norm, self-care can be seen as a nebulous, ‘feel good’ concept that has little relevance to the ‘real work’ of health, welfare and education professionals. 

It is normal to feel stressed or overwhelmed during uncertain times. Emotions in response to uncertainty may include anxiety, fear, anger and sadness. You also could feel helpless, discouraged and, occasionally, out of control. Physical responses may include headache, muscle tension, fatigue and sleeplessness. 

Now more than ever, practicing self-care is essential when it comes to taking care of our emotional health and wellbeing. And taking care of yourself will result in you being better equipped to support your family through this time.

NEUROSCIENCE/BIOLOGY 

The pre-frontal cortex is the ‘executive’ centre of the brain, and it works best when we are calm. Calm means regulated in the context of neurobiology. Being able to stay calm in the midst of trauma, through the use of regular self-care activities enables us to think more clearly and to be better able to support our family and friends. 

Holding a regulated state also is core in terms of our capacity to prevent vicarious trauma – or others’ trauma we may end up experiencing as our own. 

REPETITION BUILDS BRAINS

The important thing to understand is that self-care works similarly to going to the gym. Working out once every few weeks will bring you little to no results. Or that one-off yoga class, although nice, won’t bring any lasting effects to our wellbeing. Repetition of experience works with all activities in terms of the brain’s capacity to strengthen neuronal connections to facilitate activity. It is the same for self-care strategies, and their capacity to help us be most effective in our practice.

SELF-CARE PLAN 

Self-care can include a myriad of practices that you find both enjoyable and that in some way promote your physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental health. According to the definition from the WHO, self-care is the behaviours you do to take care of your own health and can include hygiene, nutrition, leisure activities, sports, exercise, seeking professional healthcare services when needed, and much more. 

A final point about self-care is that one person’s self-care can be another person’s stress, so you need to choose strategies that work for you. 

Navigating the new normal is not easy, and in the midst of a global pandemic, the need to care for all aspects of our own health is of the utmost importance. 

Lastly, if you feel your mental health has been suffering and your general wellbeing declining, please get support. We are very fortunate with a great range of free support lines in New Zealand. Please look through the list below. 

Mental Health is my passion and specialty, and I would love to hear from you if you think you may need support in this area. At The Good Health Room, we run different levels of professional naturopathic support for mental health, from the express consult – for straightforward acute complaints such as stress and sleep, to full naturopathic consultations, and a 12-week wellbeing programme.