These days, we might think of self-care as an indulgence. Especially when many of our favorite things to do have been limited by the pandemic. But during stressful times, it’s more important than ever to take care of ourselves. And you can still do that, without leaving your house or spending a dime.
Here are 7 essential self-care habits to start (or keep up) during quarantine.
We don’t mean to sound like your mom, but she’s got a point. Water is life, and keeping your situation hydrated is key. Water helps keep your skin, hair, and nails healthy. If you don’t like it plain, try sparkling water or herbal tea, or add fruit chunks to your water bottle.
We know it’s tempting to stay up at least until Netflix asks, “Are you still watching?” But inadequate sleep can affect your health and your mood. Try to get 7 or more hours of sleep a night. You’ll feel better for it.
Sometimes we get so busy grinding, we don’t even notice that we’ve skipped breakfast and lunch. And we don’t realize it until we suddenly feel lightheaded. Be kind to that beautiful body of yours and feed it something yummy.
So much is happening in the world right now, it’s hard to step away from the screens that keep us up to date. But remember to rest your eyes periodically. Your brain will also thank you for a break from the 24-hour news cycle.
Sorry, not sorry: one way to practice self-care is by giving yourself the Big O. Orgasms are great stress relievers.
Times of crisis take a toll in different ways. Emotions can manifest as headaches, tight muscles, or other disruptions. Try working out your frustrations physically. Jog in place. Fight the air. Do some stretches. (Yoga poses are good prep for sex, if you’re in the mood.)
The pandemic is robbing us of human contact, and we miss our BFFs in the worst way! Get those FaceTimes, Zoom chats, and phone calls in when loneliness strikes. Send a snail mail letter to someone and have them video chat you when it comes. The smile on their face will put one on yours.
BONUS: Laugh as often as you can. It’s the medicine we all need during quarantine. Just don’t do it around people outside your household unless you have a mask on, k?
We’ve got great things planned for Loop members, so remember to check back regularly to see what’s buzzing. Sign up for help navigating your birth control and to get useful information about Twirla.
Twirla® is a weekly birth control patch for women of reproductive potential with a BMI <30 kg/m2 for whom a combined hormonal contraceptive is appropriate.
Twirla is less effective in women with a BMI ≥25 to <30 kg/m2 and should not be used in women with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2.
Do not use TWIRLA if you have or have had blood clots; history of heart attack or stroke, high blood pressure that medicine cannot control, any condition that makes your blood clot more than normal, or certain heart valve problems; smoke and are over 35 years old; BMI ≥30 kg/m2.
TWIRLA is also not for women who have diabetes and are over 35 years old, diabetes with high blood pressure or kidney, eye, nerve, or blood vessel damage, diabetes for longer than 20 years; have had breast cancer or any cancer that is sensitive to female hormones; certain kinds of severe migraine headaches; have liver problems or liver tumors; unexplained bleeding from the vagina; who are or may be pregnant; or who take hepatitis C drugs containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, as this may increase levels of liver enzymes in the blood.
TWIRLA may not be a good choice for you if you have ever had depression; jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) caused by pregnancy (also called cholestasis of pregnancy) or related to previous use of hormonal birth control.
TWIRLA increases the risks of serious side effects, including blood clots, stroke, or heart attack, especially in women who have other risk factors. These can be life-threatening or lead to permanent disability. This increased risk is highest when you first start using hormonal birth control and when you restart the same or different hormonal birth control after not using it for a month or more. Treatment with TWIRLA should be stopped at least 4 weeks before and through 2 weeks after major surgery.
The most common side effects reported by women using TWIRLA in a study were skin reactions at the patch site, nausea, headache, menstrual cramps, and weight gain.
These are not all the possible side effects of TWIRLA. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
TWIRLA is a birth control patch for women with a BMI less than 30 kg/m2 who can become pregnant. It contains two female hormones, a progestin called levonorgestrel, and an estrogen called ethinyl estradiol. TWIRLA may not be as effective in women with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or more. If you have a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more, please talk with your healthcare provider about which method of birth control is right for you.
You should not use TWIRLA any earlier than 4 weeks after having a baby or if you are breastfeeding.
Hormonal birth control methods help to lower the chances of becoming pregnant when taken as directed. They do not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The risk information provided here is not complete. To learn more, review the TWIRLA Patient Information and talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
