These are anxious times for many, as we cope with COVID-19 and the potential of it spreading within our communities.
Read all about what Namibians are doing to adapt to their new norm.
The COVID-19 pandemic is not only an experience that everyone is dealing with but one that everyone is dealing with at the exact same time. There’s nothing like a world-wide pandemic to bring out both the best and worst in us. COVID-19 has set off panic alarms and because of the precautionary measures put in place by the government of Namibia, people are attempting to quiet with the best self-care rituals, home remedies, mini projects, exploring passions they have had the time for and even products available to them.
We at Mono headquarters are on a quest to find out what other people are doing right now to care for their minds and bodies, we reached out to 13 of our readers who kindly responded with their quarantine self-care routines.
While there is clearly no correct way to do this self-isolation, lockdown and self-care thing, here are some things people are up to:
Gabriel- @gabiikena
1. What is your current self-care routine?
I am staying home most importantly. I find myself watching a lot of TV shows and advancing my cooking skills. For work, I spend time updating all my company’s projects. Gabriel and Ferraro Foods, which provides sports, food and wine. I’ve also been doing online courses to up my skills and I join as many live online events, whether for entertainment or work related.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
We have started a virtual run called the Wednesday Social Club. The main aim of this initiative is to keep people active while still at home and give back to the less fortunate. Anyone can join this initiative by joining us through Strava- a mobile app found and before you join e would request a mere fee of N$100.00 that will be donated to DWNamibia- a not-for-profit organization that works towards building affordable housing to families in the informal settlement. This is how I keep my body active- running around my yard and running to the fridge and back *sych!
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
Moringa Beard Cream is my holy grail right now. I love keeping my beard clean and healthy. I rub it on almost everyday after my shower now with all this time I have on my hands and it’s been yielding great results.
Cherol- @cherol_k
1. What is your current self-care routine?
Do my skincare routine, treat myself to a cappuccino, take a few minutes to myself and do my skincare routine before bed.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
Taking 1 hour long daily walks.
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
Loving my glycolic acid toner, aloe vera face masks.
Letha- @lethahapeter
1. What is your current self-care routine?
keeping safe by wearing my mask and gloves and keeping a 2 meters distance from the next person.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
Do workouts 🏋♂ everyday after work and dancing. I like to dance.
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
Using my tea tree products from the body shop…regularly. Soak my feet in course salt warm water after work and drinking my hot tea with ginger, lemon and honey.
David- @davidwamambo_
1. What is your current self-care routine?
I wake up in the morning and seat in silence and meditated between 06:00 and 7:30.
08:00 I respond to emails. Then by 09:00 I am free to treat myself to a mini workout. I do a hundred push ups then go wash my face and eventually take a warm shower.
Facial care is important right now especially now that I don’t have access to a barbershop so for guys, lack of a haircut can easily drive you into not taking care of yourself. So I am applying a face mask every morning. Applying more oil on my beard so even if it’s not trimmed it still is moisturized and healthy.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
I go for quick walks around the complex at least three times. I also do a 100 push ups through out the course of the day.
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
At the moment Gentle Magic is doing wonders as well as the Yardly English Blazer Active deodorant kit.
Mutaleni- @mutaleni_
1. What is your current self-care routine?
My current self-care routine is, when I wake up I drink a room temperature glass of water. Say a little prayer for you to (Hashem the higher power the Jews believe in). Then I’ll play some music and do my short morning exercise routine. Shower, get ready for the day and look pretty. I generally eat healthy and drink more water either sparkling or still. I make sure to only have positive thoughts although this is a work in progress, it’s not that easy. I’ve learned that I need to do things that make me happy or content because life is too short to not be HAPPY. People are different, I used to not think positively or be positive, but I made a conscious decision to change that because I didn’t like the way it made me feel all the time.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
To be honest I don’t have a skin care routine I’m still looking to find one, but for now, I just drink a lot of water ever single day around 2L or more to keep my entire body hydrated. This has been working for me for a while. I recently fell in love with putting unscented coconut oil in my hair, it gives it so much life and it makes me feel amazing.
Charene- @charene_labuschagne
1. What is your current self-care routine?
My self-care routine consists of spending half the day on fun/creative things, and the other half on admin. I switch them up depending on what I feel I need most first thing in the morning.
I’m also just making time to write down things I’m thinking and feeling and working through them in silence x
2. How are you keeping your body active?
I’m going on daily walks with my four legged friend. And working in some Pop Sugar Fitness home workouts adding stretching/yoga when necessary.
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
Every room in the house is scented with an Immunity Boosting essential oil mix from Emssence. Its a blend of Cinnamon bark, Clove and Eucalyptus and makes the whole house smell like pancakes🌞
Brendtford- @brendford_e
1. What is your current self-care routine?
-I drink lukewarm water everyday, first thing in the morning, followed by some strong black coffee.
-I take 5 minutes to decompress everyday
-Make a menu for the week, by pre-planning your meals you can often eliminate the impulse.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
-Having a 30 minute home workout just by using my body weight.
-Dancing to some good music ,just to loosen up and unwind
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
-I’ve always been a fan of a Hot Toddy but without the whiskey, warm water, ginger, cinnamon and lemon sometimes I add cloves to it just for extra aroma and flavour.
Flora- @flora_anda
1. What is your current self-care routine?
Learning how to eat healthy, exercise, being organized, reading more, improving on my make up skills and spending more time with myself and getting to know myself even more.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
I am spending more time doing small activities like cooking, tidying up, doing laundry and other small chores, having activities with the kids at home and lastly its so important to make sure you take good care of your body, mind and soul everyday, not just when you get sick.
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
My current beauty products I’m into during this lockdown is the “Hibiscus Facial Mask” by @chen_organics it became my favourite in my everyday skin care routine, I’ve been using it every morning and it’s been doing my skin justice, I love how smooth and radiant it leaves my skin.
Wilka- @wilkaaaaaaaa
1. What is your current self-care routine?
I am profoundly finding a mix in my daily routine. Although I must admit that I’m not one to have a routine, I quite rather find routines to be boring and safe, and that’s one thing I refuse to be associated with. But there is one thing that I do regularly immediately after I’ve gotten out of bed and that is to wash my face.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
I am a health conscious person, I would do anything to keep me from being sick, because I hate being sick. So to that, ginger & lemon in hot water does it for me. I take it every morning and every night just before bed, you should try it. It works.
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
During the day I like to get to be one with things that I am good at, from creating a little dress from scratch or baking a chocolate almond cake, even expanding my food palate from watching Marry Berry cook and having to recreate a meal that I have never had before, while still finding time to drink plenty of water between all these activities.
Donovan- @donovanmajiedt
1. What is your current self-care routine?
A main part of my self-care routine is maintaining a positive mental health so I get up on time and give thanks for the blessings I have. I have this thing where I save pictures of hearts from Pinterest along with reading positive quotes or books. Then I try to spread that to whomever I can and as far as I can on my social platforms, because impacting at least one persons life in a positive way in return really boosts my mental health.
I also take time to unwind my days, especially with this sensitive lockdown period, which usually means taking a shower, getting dressed up and enjoying some of the wines outside in the fresh air. Sometimes also in the form of virtual dates with friends.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
To keep my body active, I do any exercise daily whether it be yoga, weights or cardio and as I’m spending the lockdown with family, I try to motivate them to join and make it as fun as possible. I also have a lot of dance parties with myself, guess that’s my goofy side coming out now more than ever and I really enjoy it 🙂
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
My go to beauty routine is using 3 main products being a rooibos based face wash,100% aloe vera gel and coconut oil (mostly at night only). Occasionally I’ll add in a charcoal face-mask and drink a whole lot of water during the day to keep my skin hydrated as I shave my facial hair daily.
So it’s very important for me to upkeep all of these things and routines, it just gives me some normality and keeps me going during this otherwise weird period we’ve all found ourselves in.
Janet- @janetsheehama
1. What is your current self-care routine?
Drinking lots of water and trying out some yoga exercises (some days only).
2. How are you keeping your body active?
My body is quite active since I am currently at the village and it involves so much movement + house chores. Some days I prefer jogging a bit.
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
Since my face suffers from so much blemish, I’m currently more focused on trying to get rid of them with home-made turmeric mask (turmeric, lemon, honey and tea tree oil)
Iyaloo- @iy4l00
1. What is your current self-care routine?
I wouldn’t say I have a self care routine, per se. I simply roll with the punches & handle everything (good & bad) as it comes. Most days I win, other days I learn.
2. How are you keeping your body active?
I’m still running at least twice a week. This is usually 15km or more per run. This helps with getting out of the confined space & a break from work. I’m still working from home.
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
A good home remedy I recently did was for removing dead skin on your feet. It was a simple & quick method. 1 part vinegar & listerine with 2 parts warm water. Soak for 20-30 minutes and it comes right off.
Tsuku- @tsu_ku
1. What is your current self-care routine?
It’s such a difficult time because of the confinement. We have to stay at home as much as possible for an indefinite period. But my priority since the beginning of 2020 is the time, love, and attention that I pay to me. And am absolutely treating myself to a little glass of medicinal wine at the end of the day!
2. How are you keeping your body active?
I am exercising regularly with my personal trainer via WhatsApp video call together with my sister and brother in-law as we used to go to the gym together (accountable buddies).
3. What beauty product OR home remedy are you enjoying?
I love the hydro boost range from Neutrogena! (Living in a hot country)
What does your lockdown self care routine look like? Share with us!