Now is the time to do things you couldn't normally do. For instance, solitary reading and drawing, meditation, stretching, or even introspective thinking about issues that you normally brush under the carpet. Making plans for how life will change once you emerge with newly discovered gratitude for life.
Talking to friends and family over social media etc can sometimes make you feel even more lonely, or dare I suggest, even more bored.
With skincare and beauty at the forefront of this blog, naturally my tips will be along the more superficial side of things. But if you can't indulge when you're hidden away and forced into solitude, then when will you?
1. Have you ever tried Retin A or Tazorac? The real stuff? If you haven't - or if you have and you found the flaking just wasn't worth it, now is the time to flake away. Don't worry the flaking won't show on Zoom. This is the perfect opportunity to get your skin conditioned to using it. Studies show that skin improvement can happen within just two weeks.
2. Learn a skill that could save you hundreds of pounds... I'm talking about manicures, pedicures, even hair dying and hair cutting. You might just find that it's not that impossible. But start on very easy and subtle stuff, no drastic bleaching and bobbing. Hairdressers are terrified that this will be our awakening. The revolution might just start now. Spending £280 on new hair is hard to stomach. Then again, be warned, if you mess up, that will seem a bargain. So just go for a similar tone or even just a colour wash in wash out...
3. Make like celebrities and dye your hair a fun colour you'd never normally do! If you still have work meetings you can tie it up (only do the ends.) No one will know! You can go blue or pink - those seem to be the couleurs du jour. You will need to bleach the ends or even the whole head depending on the look you want or if you don't already have highlights that need retouching. And if it's a patchy bleach job, it's fine because the fashion colour will cover it up or even add to its cool appeal. If you choose blue though, dilute it with white conditioner because that does stain whereas pink washes out pretty easily. Unless you'll be moving on to an all over brown once the fun and frolics get old, in that case, you can go any colour.
4. If you're cohabiting with unpleasant people, the lockdown can be unbearable. Of course if it's physical abuse you must look into a safe refuge, nothing is worth living in fear and trauma. If it's less severe or exclusively emotional abuse, now could be the time for you to deal with it head-on. Confront the abuser and let them know you have seen through them and they can't hurt you anymore. See them for the cheap nasty bully that they are, and treat their words as worthless. With time on your hands you may find you are finally able to recognise that they are awful people who simply don't deserve your tears. ThIs goes for people in your life generally, that now that you have the luxury of time, you can get around to cutting out of your life once and for all. They in turn will be shocked and very distressed to see that their scapegoat isn't playing ball anymore, it might even prompt them to change their ways. Probably not, but it will take their power away. If escaping them is too impossible, at least you can figure out how to mitigate their poison.
5. Get healthy. Boring, yes. But imagine how it'll feel. Most people will emerge 2 stone heavier, you will be 2 stone lighter! You will prove you used the time alone to work on your self discipline in a time when eating really is the only valuable entertainment.
6. As long as you can afford to, treat yourself to something you've been wanting a while. It's not a necessity but it's helping the economy back on its feet so you'll be doing your bit! Skincare or a new outfit, anything that will make you feel elevated again.
7. A morning ritual and an evening ritual. For me it's the Aveda brush I blogged about recently, that starts my morning off. And in the evening, I mix a dollop of moisturiser with a pea sized amount of Tazoratene.
The main thing is to not let yourself descend into horrible habits because that will wear away at your self worth and leads to a dangerous cycle which once begun is hard to reverse. It's tempting to exist merely for others, to decide, no one will see me so what's the point? But that is when you begin to see your value in and of itself.
Take care of yourself, love yourself, and keep safe. This could be a once in a lifetime gift of guilt-free time. Take the chance to indulge whims and to take care of your own needs. Wishing you all well!
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