S E L F C A R E.

Feline cute, might delete later...

HANDS UP WHO'S STILL IN THEIR PYJAMAS? BOTH HANDS UP WHO'S STILL THE SAME PYJAMAS THEY PUT ON A WEEK AGO WHEN SHIT GOT LOCKED DOWN?

On a serious note, as a well seasoned ‘stay-at-homer’ through JOMO (joy of missing out) and numerous home based jobs it is important for your sanity and self worth to keep up your usual selfcare regime, and to continue to do basic things like, you know, change your underwear. Believe me, I know. I learnt the hard way.

When I first started working from home many moons ago I’d literally roll out of bed at 8.55am chasing the phone I had hurled across the room, throw myself down the stairs to the kettle to chuck a litre of coffee down my throat and be behind my laptop by 8.59am. And that is where I would stay. In my pyjamas. Unwashed. Until I took myself to bed at nearly midnight... everyday the same damn thing beacuase hey, aint no body gonna see my scruffy ass until I needed milk and had to go to the supermarket.

During my first home based job I pretty much put myself in lockdown. I lived on my own so I could do what the hell I wanted, and that is dangerous for someone with both reclusive and work-a-holic tendences. The week would pass by and I had no idea what day it was, basically five days became one big never ending day and I only knew it was Saturday by the absence of This Morning at 10.15.

Maybe I should wash my hair tonight? yeah, but what's the point im not going anywhere. Perhaps I will paint my toenails? Not really any need,pink fluffy slippers - chipped toes be gone! And this is how the spiral begins my friends.

Being at home is fun, I love being at home, but why does not leaving the house mean we automatically think we dont need to show ourselves love and care? Do we really only do the nice things for ourself for OTHER people? Arn't we enough? Of course we are.

I began to really hate my job, my family wondered where I had gone and my home that I loved, essentially became an abyss. A black hole of nothingness.

Think of it this way, you are usually much busier than you are now and yet you make the time for selfcare, because you are leaving the house. Now you are staying in, yea sure it's fine to relax and I am not saying you need to look immaculate every day, gosh, what I am saying is not even about appearence... What I am reffering to is about FEELING.

What kicked it off for me was an average day of throwing myself down the stairs at 8.55am, chucking half a litre of coffee down my neck and the other half down my front, making the commute from my kitchen to my livingroom just in time for my 9am start... FACETIME. OH FUCK.

And this ladies and gents was the moment.

'Are you sick?'.

'No I just dont have any makeup on'.

And then it dawned on me that I also did not have any deoderant or knickers on and tried to recall the last time I did?

Now please do not get me wrong, this isn't about wearing make up indoors, or wearing make up ever... It isn't shaming anyone for appearence, instead what I am trying to explain is, just because you arn't going outside doesnt mean you shouldnt look after yourself and do the things you usually do, it doesn't make selfcare invalid, pointless or extravagant. These are the things that make you feel good and these are the things you need right now. I knew that when I had freshly painted toenails it made me feel happy, and this still is my 'goto' pick me up.

My weekly facepack made a comeback and gave me a reason to shut shop early, I even went all out and made Friday night bath night, my 2 minute quick dash 'n' splash shower I was having of a night was replaced by an indulgent soak once a week. I would shower in the moring and get dressed, even if it was a clean tshirt and leggings, I wouldnt spend the day in what I wore to bed the night before, and yes some days i did actually do my hair and put some make up on, just because I felt like it. My boss never seemed to Facetime me on those days though, remarkably. I found a routine that meant I could use and enjoy my time at home, I learned that I did these things for me because they made ME feel good, yes it may have taken a middle aged man's thoughtless (or maybe thoughtful if he really did think I was sick) comment on my appearence, but that comment was what triggered me to realise that how I was feeling on the inside was reflective on the outside and making an impact on my self worth.

So, whilst holed up at home, this goes for the men as much as the girls, it's cool to relax and let go, we should all be comfortable at home - take off your pants, whip off that bra, but just remember to show yourself the love and care it needs, and spending time on things that make you feel better about yourself just to go from the bathroom to the kitchen to the lounge is absolutely OK. It is never a waste of time if it makes you FEEL good. And besides, you got plenty of that right now anyway. Check in with yourself time-to-time, see what you need. Also, check in with your jeans now and then too...you know, 'just in case'!

#STAYATHOMESELFCARE