How are you doing, mama? With the COVID-19 situation, I see that anxiety and stress levels are high – especially among parents. Most of us have been taken out of our “normal” and forced to suddenly shift to a whole new way of living.

I’ve been working from home for 12 years and I have to say, stress has been extra since the community quarantine began. Not only do I worry every day about my husband who is a frontliner, but I also worry about my family’s health, and what is to become of the world after all of this.

It feels like we’re out of control, doesn’t it? And it’s scary. It’s scary not knowing what will happen next. It’s scary not knowing where we’ll find ourselves next week, or even tomorrow.

That’s why a self care routine is especially important now. I’m not just talking about a luxurious spa experience or getting your nails done. No. It’s a deeper kind of self care because it tackles not just the physical, but the mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Here’s a quick video I made about my self care routine:

Every morning, I make it a point to spend some time to meditate. Meditation helps in setting the mood for the day. This is the guided meditation I use every morning. I was skeptical about this whole meditation thing. If you’re the same, just give it a shot. You’ll be amazed by how much it’ll change your mood and your days.

After I meditate, I fuel up my body with a healthy breakfast. It’s not okay to skip meals – what more skip breakfast. You need nutritious food to keep your whole system functioning as it should be. Do you notice how bad your temper is when you’re hungry? That’s your body telling you you’re running low on fuel. Fill it up with the right amount and with the right ingredients – lots of vegetables, lots of fruits, fiber, protein, and water. You might also want to include supplements to make sure you get the nutrients your body needs.

Once breakfast is done, I help the kids get started with their baths. After all of them, I take a bath as well. You can find everything I use here. Some of my essentials can be on the expensive side, but I really go for quality.

Throughout the day, I try to be mindful of how I respond to situations. Yes, I still lose my cool sometimes. But since becoming more mindful, it’s rare that my emotions take. If the kids are acting up, I focus on what I can control instead of facing their tantrums head on with a loud scream.

Usually, when my kids become out of control, I take their gadgets (or whatever they’re fighting about) and I give them a time out outside. I find that the open space and fresh air cool down hot heads pretty well. They’re back to their pleasant selves in no time!

I also try to incorporate exercise or any type of movement every day. When it’s a good day, I’m able to fit in a proper exercise routine like this one:

But on days when my kids demand most of my time, I use playtime with them as my movement for the day. We run around the house. I carry them up and down. Or we do tickle fights.

I usually do my work towards the end of the day. That’s the best time for me to sneak in some tasks while my kids are wrapping up their day. I try to be extra focused during this time to ensure productivity is high.

After work, I clean up then I meditate again. I also take a few minutes before bedtime to process my thoughts and feelings and write on my journal. This is a must for me because if I don’t write my thoughts down, I often end up awake until the wee hours of the morning, thinking about all sorts of things.

What is your self care routine like? Share it in the comments section below!