We’ve all had some hard days recently. Whether you’re in isolation or have to work out in the world, we wanted to offer some self-care tips to help you feel a little better about everything.
For most of us, our daily routines and regular passions have been disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. Even if you are fortunate enough to be relatively untouched by this pandemic, we’re all at least shaken by this change to our way of life. Self-care can be challenging right now, especially if you were used to engaging with the world in ways that simply aren’t possible anymore.
Whatever your situation during this pandemic, we hope you’re able to take a little time each week when you can focus on caring for yourself. That’s where this isolation self-care guide comes in. We’ve included a delicious healthy recipe and some self-care tips we’re using to maintain a healthy outlook. We also selected a few of our favorite hemp and CBD products which you might find nourishing, soothing or relaxing to try.
While we don’t know what you’re going through right now, we hope the best for you and your family, and hope these tips can give you a little more relaxation.
Table of Contents
- Isolate with us: Self-care tips with the Ministry of Hemp
- Recipe: Cookie Dough Smoothie
- Nourish yourself inside & out with hemp
Check out our list of CBD assistance programs if you’re having trouble affording CBD during this time.
Isolation self-care tips from the Ministry of Hemp
Many of us at Ministry of Hemp are used to working from home. But this pandemic is stressful even for those of us with years of experience working this way.
There’s no longer any way to escape the same four walls for long, whether it’s to a café or a coworking space. All our routines are being disrupted, not to mention facing the stress and anxiety of this uncertain, scary and dangerous time.
At the time we’re writing this, some states are beginning to open up again. But medical experts are cautioning it will be a long time, from months to years, before things go back to anything approaching normal. And, sadly, we may see several waves of the virus, forcing us to stay home again. Making the most out of our home life is going to be important for a long time to come.
We polled everyone in our virtual office, to find out how they’re coping. Here’s some of our favorite isolation self-care tips:
Separate work & home
If you’ve got the space to do so, create a separate space for work and living. Having a home office, and a clear end time to your work every day, will help you maintain a work/life balance.
That means both physically separating your work from the rest of your home, to the extent it’s possible to do so, but also deliberate scheduling. Especially if you’re not used to working from home, it’s easy to turn a normal workday into an all nighter, or find yourself answering emails at all hours, even when you’re trying to get some sleep or visit with your family or partner. Try to create a concrete start, and end, to every workday.
Take time every day for self-care
Our video producer Desiree says she spends 20 minutes every morning, drinking coffee while laying in the sun on her deck. Drew, our sales & sponsorship assistant, loves to listen to sound meditations and garden. Of course, taking CBD might be part of your self-care routine too. Some studies and numerous anecdotal reports suggest CBD can reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Maintaining our connections with others is vital too, however we’re able. If you’re living in isolation with someone, make sure to make time for each other. Many of us are participating in video chats and regular phone calls with friends and family that we can’t be near.
Don’t spend all your time online
Have you found yourself awake at some weird hour, staring into your social media feed as you watch the world seemingly fall apart? We’ve been there and it sucks. Set limits for yourself. That might be a maximum amount of time you spend on social media per day, or you might decide not to check your phone for a certain amount of time before sleeping or after waking up. Consider keeping your phone out of the bedroom, and maybe switch to a book before bed.
Keep to a routine …
What day is it again? If you’ve been stuck at home, and all your routines are a mess, it can make it harder to cope. If you can, stick to a regular routine as much as you can. Make sure to get sleep. Get up around the same time. Make sure you eat regular meals.
… but love yourself when things go wrong
At the same time, make allowances for the hard days, when you just aren’t able to do as much. You might need to sleep more, or have trouble sleeping. Things might feel a bit hopeless. That’s OK, so let yourself feel it too.
If you do feel out of control or overwhelmed by your feelings regularly, considering reaching out to your doctor, a therapist or other medical professional. Most therapists are offering video chats now, and it’s hard to overstate how valuable these conversations can be.
Help your neighbors
We’re all feeling a little disconnected right now. Look for ways to support people close to you, even if you didn’t know them before the pandemic. Maybe there’s an older or immunocompromised neighbor that needs someone to bring over some groceries. If you have money, consider donating part of your stimulus check to someone who has less. Leave notes on doors, or find people to help on social networks like Facebook, Twitter and NextDoor. There may even be an organized volunteer or mutual aid network in your community that you can tap into to help even more.
Helping others can be a valuable form of self-care, because it turns self-care into community care. And it helps us all feel less isolated, even while maintaining isolation for safety. You might make new friends that last long after this crisis passes.
Eating well is the best isolation self-care
Eating nutritious foods is one of the best forms of self-care during isolation. Taking time to cook with or for your partner, or even just yourself, can feel extremely nurturing. And that’s even before you dig into your freshly made food. There’s lots of ways to safely get fresh food in many communities, whether it’s through grocery pickup, or joining a local farm share. Here in Austin where many of us work, some local restaurant distributors are even now selling their produce to the public.
Of course, we’re big fans of hemp seeds. Hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are nutritional powerhouses, full of amino acids, omega3s and other nourishment. We also think they taste good too. But whether or not you’re eating our favorite plant, we encourage you to pick meals that are both good for you but also nourish your spirit. And if that means indulging in some ice cream after a rough day, we say go for it.
Recipe: Cookie Dough Smoothie
Who hasn’t taken a bite of cookie dough out of the bowl? This delicious CBD smoothie offers you a healthier version of an old favorite.
Salty and sweet, this cookie in a cup has a frosty, blended-ice texture with chocolate chips (or cacao nibs if you want something less sweet). This smoothie is filling with a secret fiber- and protein-rich ingredient … chickpeas! You’ll never know they’re in there, but once you try this, you won’t be able to stop using them in your own smoothie blends.
Excerpted from CBD Drinks for Health by Carlene Thomas. Copyright © 2024 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 (2-CUP) SERVING
Per Serving
Calories: 242 – Fat: 7g – Protein: 6g – Sodium: 777mg Fiber: 5g – Carbohydrates: 41g – Sugar: 20g
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweetened vanilla oat milk
- 1⁄4 cup canned, drained, and rinsed chickpeas
- 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
- 1⁄2 small peeled frozen banana, cut into chunks
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 15 milligrams CBD isolate oil
Directions
- Add oat milk, chickpeas, salt, chocolate chips, banana, and ice cubes to a small blender.
- Start blender on low and increase to high for 1 minute and 30 seconds until smooth.
- Add in CBD oil and blend on low for 10 seconds.
- Serve immediately.
Nourish yourself inside & out: Hemp & CBD products for isolation self-care
To close out our isolation self-care guide, we thought we’d select some of our favorite hemp and CBD products. All of these are products we’ve enjoyed during our time working from home. They have helped us feel more relaxed, more nourished, moisturized, and less anxious.
We’ve broken down our selections into categories. Click the product below to go directly to the listing, or keep reading to see them all.
Beauty & Skin Care
- EngErotics Soaking Sands Bath Shots
- Prima Night Magic Facial Oil
- Kino Whole Plant Hemp Lotion, White Gardenia Scent
Health
Fashion
Food
Ministry of Hemp received free samples of these products for evaluation. We receive a percentage of sales if you buy products using the links or coupons below. We only selected products that we genuinely enjoy, and that meet our high standards, for inclusion in this article.
EngErotics Soaking Sands Bath Shots
What is it? EngErotics Soaking Sands Bath Shots are single-serving bath salts that combine moisturizing oils, delightful scents and the soothing effects of CBD.
Why did we select this product? A relaxing bath can be the perfect way to ground yourself in your body and focus on self-care rather than the stressful news of the day. And you know you’re supporting a great small, black-owned business with your dollars.
What’s it cost? $12.00 each
Kino Whole Plant Hemp CBD Body Lotion
What is it? Kino’s CBD Body Lotion, enhanced with kukui nut and hemp and rich with vitamin E will moisturize, heal cracked skin, and ease painfully dry hands.
Why did we select this product? We’re all washing our hands over and over and over again! A soothing, moisturizing lotion is some of the best self-care right now. The White Gardenia scent helped mentally transport us to another place, too, far from isolation.
What’s it cost? $58 for an 8oz bottle
Prima Night Magic Facial Oil
What is it? Prima Night Magic is a face and skin oil designed with a targeted blend of vitamins and nourishing oils, plus the power of hemp.
Why did we select this product? A mindful skin care routine can become a kind of meditation, and there’s something intensely relaxing about this facial oil, with its warm earthy undertones and soothing feel. We’ve applied it to our face and neck, dry hands, even elbows. A little goes a long way!
What’s it cost? $88 for a 1oz bottle
Special Offer: Use coupon MINISTRY20 for 20% off your entire order!
Populum Full-Spectrum Hemp CBD Oil
What is it? A top-quality, full-spectrum product, Populum CBD Oil rich is with terpenes and cannabinoids, but blended with a fresh orange flavor that makes it easy to take. Available in 250mg, 500mg and 1000mg bottles.
Why did we select this product? CBD oil can offer stress relief, pain relief, and often helps relieve anxiety. There’s so many little ways CBD can help during isolation, so we make sure to take some every day. The great flavor of Populum’s CBD means there’s no hempy taste to contend with either.
What’s it cost? $59 – $179.00 depending on strength
Special Offer: Subscribe to monthly deliveries for 20% off
Joy Organics CBD Softgels
What is it? Broad-spectrum, THC-free Joy Organics CBD Softgels made with nanoemulsion technology to ensure fast absorption and high levels of bioavailability. Available in 10mg and 25mg strengths.
Why did we select this product? If you’re already taking other supplements or medications, a softgel can be an easy way to add CBD to your everyday self-care routine during isolation. Softgels also make it easy to take the same dose every time.
What’s it cost? 44.95 – 74.95 depending on strength
Vitagenne Pure Sleep Hemp CBD Capsules
What is it? Vitagenne’s Pure Sleep Hemp Capsules combine 25mg of CBD isolate with 5mg of melatonin and 180mg of valerian extra in every softgel.
Why did we select this product? You’re not alone if you’ve been having trouble sleeping during the pandemic. Combining CBD with other natural sleep aids like valerian and melatonin, these capsules could help you drift off and sleep deeper.
What’s it cost? $49.99 for 30 capsules
Special Offer: Use coupon MOH20 for 20% off your entire order!
WAMA Hemp Underwear
What is it? WAMA Underwear is super soft, super comfortable, super durable underwear made from hemp! Available in 8 styles for men and women.
Why did we select this product? Hemp underwear is some of the softest underwear you can imagine and, like all hemp fabrics, it just gets softer as you wash it more. Plus, hemp is naturally antibacterial, meaning you’ll stink less around anyone you do get close too during isolation.
What’s it cost? $24 each for men’s underwear styles, $20 each for women’s underwear styles, discounted multi-packs available
Hemp Zoo Hemp Socks
What is it? Ultra comfortable Hemp Zoo Hemp Socks available in basic black or cute hemp leaf print. These come in a crew style.
Why did we select this product? A warm, soft pair of socks just relaxes our feet, making great self-care when we’re isolating inside in the air conditioning all day. Hemp Zoo also has a wide selection of hemp clothes that are great for lounging indoors, helping you stay a little stylish while still very comfortable. Plus that whole anti-stink feature we mentioned above applies here too.
What’s it cost? $14.99 per pair
Hemp Seeds & Bars from Humming Hemp
What is it? Humming Hemp sells U.S. grown hemp hearts (hulled hemp seeds) that are easy to add to almost any dish. For quick snacking, we love their delicious hemp-based Hummingbars. Try several of their products in their special Stay Home Humming Kit.
Why did we select this product? Hemp seeds are very balanced nutrition, offering a complete protein along with other vital nutrients. Good nutrition is essential self-care, especially during the stress of isolation.
What’s it cost? Various. Hemp hearts start at $9.99.
Neurogan Hemp Tea
What is it? Each bag of Neurogan Hemp Tea contains only caffeine-free hemp leaves and a small amount of CBD (10mg). Hemp has a natural earthy flavor that many tea lovers will adore.
Why did we select this product? Neurogan is a CBD and hemp brand with Scandinavian roots. Neurogan seeks to promote the art of “hygge,” which means enjoying the simple things in life. A warm cup of hemp tea is the perfect simple self-care we need during isolation.
What’s it cost? $15.95 for 20 tea bags
Drew De Los Santos contributed to this guide.