Six easy activities to try during your indefinite hiatus from the outside world
Quarantine has been a confusing time for all of us. With the added stresses of what goes on beyond our doors, it’s also hard not to worry about what goes on within them. Are we being productive enough? Are we being too hard on ourselves? Should we be doing something other than baking and watching Netflix all day? There is no right answer, but it’s also unfair to pack on the pressure during a time like this where our main priority is simply to keep ourselves afloat and well. Now more than ever, self-care should be a priority. These are a few easy ways to stay creative and calm during our hiatus at home.
Tie Dye a Sweatsuit
You’ve probably seen this new clothing trend everywhere, and some girl from your high school is probably trying to sell it to you for a marked up price. But what better way to let go of frustrations than engaging in a mindless but fun childhood activity? Any tie-dye kit will do whether it’s store bought or ordered online to avoid unnecessary social contact. Sweatsuits can be purchased from most major retailers (Walmart has cheap comfortable ones) and the end product is perfect for lounging around during quarantine—an added element of self-care. It’s also probably a much cheaper alternative to the Bandier set you’ve been eyeing.
Dye your hair with semi-permanent dye
Think about it, now is a time where no one will see you. Even if changing your look goes totally wrong, who’s going to know? Dua Lipa has done it about twice already so why not bust out the semi-permanent box dye? It’s as easy as going to any drug store or ordering it online. You could go for the cheap options like Splat, or for a more holistic approach to the process, Overtone has great shampoos, conditioners, and other products to help ease the dye process.
Put on a Hair Mask
While on the subject of hair care, what better way to leave these months of social isolation than to come out looking brand new? With so many hair masks on the market, the best results are quite dependent on hair type, but there are certain ingredients you can’t go wrong with. Playa’s Healing Hair Masque, designed for weekly use, is extending a 50% discount to healthcare workers for COVID-19 relief. With drugstore options like OGX or higher end brands like Aesop, hair care can happen on any budget. If you’re looking for the DIY route, Pinterest is a great way to search for hair-type specific and organic masks.
Do a DIY Facial
Of course there are plenty of face masks both DIY and store bought that you can use and pamper yourself with, but with all the extra time, or at least extra time you should be allotting for yourself, a facial is also on the table. The basics are simple enough- first steam your face over some hot water, and add citrus peels if possible for the anti-oxidants. Next, cleanse and exfoliate with a cleanser and scrub of your choice. Then, cover your skin with a mask (thin potato slices are very recommended). Lastly, treat your skin with a bowl of ice water or an ice roller to tighten pores and increase blood flow. It’s that easy.
Use an At Home Mani Kit
Giving yourself the perfect manicure can be…hard, but as advertised all over Instagram, there are countless at home manicure kits to achieve as close to perfection as possible. At home step-by-step gel kits, press-on kits, and even sticker manicures are dominating the market. If you don’t want to risk visiting the nail salon until more time has passed, brands like ManiMe and Static Nails yield the most impossibly perfect results with designs that won’t leave you sweating over Youtube and Pinterest tutorials. With that being said, purchase a gift certificate from your local nail salon if you can to support them during these uncertain times! You can always use it later.
Do some Tote Bag Embroidery
More on the mind side of the body-mind spectrum, embroidery is definitely something to pick up when you have extra time on your hands. But instead of going the usual embroidery hoop route, why not do something to all those extra tote-bags you have lying around? In a world where everyone has the same New Yorker tote bag, spending a little extra time to make it your own is both relaxing and can give you something to look forward to showing off when the outside world becomes an option again.
