Remember when I wrote a post about beating the quarantine blues? I mentioned a couple of things I do at home to help entertain myself as I wait for world to go back to normal. Well, it doesn't seem like things are going to get better anytime soon, so I thought I'd share with you a part two of things I like to do at home, but this time, more towards self-care. Not everything will apply to one person, but I do hope this list somehow gives you an idea of how you, too, can take care of yourself and make the most of your time whilst indoors.
1. Get painting
With everything being accessible online now, I've actually ventured into painting. I had a custom paint-by-numbers kit made with a photo from our trip to Italy earlier this year. I didn't think it'd take so much time to do, but I guess that's the good thing about it. If I want to keep my mind off of something, I can sit down and take a few hours to concentrate on getting some painting done.
2. Bring out those face masks
And no, not the kind you wear out due to covid. I love, love putting on facial masksl sheets at night before heading to bed. Just 15 minutes of uninterrupted me time can do you wonders, both physically and mentally! I recently discovered Japanese brand Saborino's 5-in-1 sheet masks! It's a facial wash, face lotion, serum, moisturizer, and face mask - all in one! Compared to other masks, you'll only need to put this on for a minute and you're good to go! It's perfect for busy/lazy girls who aim to have plump and radiant skin, of course you can still leave it on for longer, it smells really nice too!
3. Join a class or two
This can be a physical workout class (zumba, hiphop, aerobics, a cycling class) or something to keep those creative juices running (like pottery, writing, baking, or cooking classes!) We're over a year into the pandemic, a ton of services that you didn't think would ever be done online are now available with just the click of a button. I've personally been very intrigued with pottery - the thought making my own cups and plates excites me - but I still can't find myself committing to 3 weekends of three-hour classes. Since this is all about self-care, don't pressure yourself too much! Don't force it if you don't feel like it. But then again, you only get better when you do something out of your comfort zone. So think about it. ;) P.S. Make sure to take your vitamins daily!!
4. Take naps
Since I sleep past 12 midnight and wake up by 5am due to my pumping schedule, I like to take quick naps during the day to ensure I get enough sleep. As we all know, good sleep is very important as it helps with productivity and concentration, affects emotions and social interactions, and even improve your immune function! It's always better to have straight 8 hours of sleep, but if it can't be helped, at the very least, take naps during the day!
5. Make delicious coffee
I remember the good ol' days when I'd go to a cafe, order a hot white mocha or a coffee jelly frappe and just hang out for hours. Well, you can still do that at home! I've been wanting a capsule machine since last year, so I think I'll finally get myself one for my birthday! Capsule machines are very easy to use - not much clean up after; hassle-free. The only thing I'm a bit iffy about is the fact that it adds to a lot of waste. Will definitely look into getting reusable pods if in case I do get one. Hopefully it'll work with either of the two machines I'm considering getting.
6. Play games!
I know I said this in my last post, but I'll say it again! No matter what age you are, there are games out there for you. And let's face it, it's never bad to take breaks and just relax from time to time. I enjoy adventure games quite a lot, as well as really old-fashioned, simple ones like Tetris. I like to have a balance of games where I don't have to think so much vs games where I can actually exercise my brain (being cooped up at home for months on end can't be good for you, right?)
So anyway, I discovered yet another website called Solitaire.org, and yes, it's all about card games! Sharing with you my three favorite games:
Mahjong
I love, love Free Cell! I've played this more than I have your regular Solitaire! The end game with Solitare is to be able to bring together the same suits on the column on the right. On the board, you can stack together black and red cards alternately in numerical order (see second screenshot). You can use the boxes on the left as "free cells" - put the cards you want to temporarily remove from the board there to give you access to the card/s underneath it. Be careful though, the more cards you put in the "free cells", the less cards you can move together. The only thing I don't like about this game is you have to manually put each card in the foundation even though they're already arranged by number, so that's really where I took most time.
Pyramid
I love playing Pyramid but sometimes, it can be a pain. I hate not being able to finish a game so I'd do it over and over again. I can honestly play this for hours, as I pump or with a show playing in the background. It's very entertaining - all you have to do is make matches that add up to 13. So for example, 7 and 6; 10 and 3; Q and A. Like with Mahjong, you can get stuck here as well, so make sure to use your Deals wisely. I'm not all that familiar when it comes to scoring though, some people might find it important, but I personally don't.
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