5 Cottagecore Lessons for Mental Health (in Quarantine)

I love being alone, but can't stand being cooped up. 
Since quarantine began last March, I've found it progressively more difficult to calm my mind and feel at peace with my day-to-day life. In response, I have decided to dedicate myself to bringing intention into every one of my actions and thoughts as I move through each day in an attempt to balance out the sense of powerlessness that has been washing over me recently. 
Below you will find a list of the five best things that are helping me positively change my mindset, all inspired by the cottagecore aesthetic.

What is #Cottagecore?
Cottagecore is an aesthetic which developed on social media sites--namely Tumblr--beginning in the 2010's. The cottagecore aesthetic idealizes the simplicity of life in the rural countryside, the beauty of the natural world, femininity, and homemaking. 
The combination of attributes making cottagecore the perfect basis for beginning a new transformative cycle are clear. Not only are we (hopefully) nearing the end of a year-long quarantine, but 2021 has only recently begun, and shoots of green are popping up all over the place in a bid to start springtime early. 
The world is waking up from a long rest, and so must we.
The value of the home has become clearer than ever over the past year. The amount of time spent alone, pacing around the house, opening and shutting the fridge door, and quietly losing my marbles (think, The Yellow Wallpaper) has inspired me to take on a new kind of living. One where I move, think, and speak with intention.
Join me on a journey of self-actualization.

self-actualization (noun)

the realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities;

the highest level of psychological development.

Self-actualization sounds like a pretty high mark to reach, I know.
So let's take it breath by breath.

5 Cottagecore Lessons for Mental Health

(in quarantine)

1. Look around.
The best thing that you can do for yourself is be aware. 
One lesson that comes back to me time and again--particularly when the days grow long and dark and my head feels heavy like I'm losing a battle to the inertia of sleep--is that the closer you look, the more you will see. 
As simple as it sounds, this idea is a fantastic first step in becoming a fully actualized person. In order to understand your potential, you need to first recognize your environment and resources. 
As soon as you begin awakening yourself to the complexity of life around you, you will find yourself awash in the beauty of it all. There is abundance in nature and within the home, no matter where you turn.
It is difficult to be bored when you truly absorb yourself in observation.
Consider not only the physical world, but the auditory one. Listen carefully to the creaking of floorboards, the whistling of wind, and the seemingly ceaseless barking of the dog down the street. They all have something to say. 
Allow yourself to be inspired by what you see and hear.

2. Slow down. 

Another one that sounds silly, like it couldn't possibly cause change. But it will.

Start monitoring your internal speed. How quickly are you jumping from one thought to another? Does your breathing happen thoughtlessly or do you take the time to actually take a deep breath when you need one?

Slowing down does not mean falling behind on your work/school/obligations. You don't need to procrastinate in order to start moving at a slower pace. Chances are your internal speed is already moving way faster than you need or want it to, and you just haven't noticed yet.

When you find yourself at wits end, and that familiar tingle of hopelessness starts its spinning itself around in the corner of your tired mind, stop for a moment and observe your speed. Take a deep breath.

You do not need to be moving through life so quickly. 

Start consciously slowing down. 

It may be difficult to slow down your thoughts, as they can often seem completely out of our control, so begin instead with your physical movements. Anything from standing up, to making a meal, to walking to the shower can be performed with care. Start paying attention, and start slowing down.

Patience will bring you peace.

3. Tidy up.

If your mind feels overwhelmed, it could be a result of negative stimulation from your physical environment. For those of us spending day in and day out in the same few rooms, it can be tedious to keep up with cleaning. After all, what's the point of making my bed if I'm going to sit on it all day? 

Taking time each day to settle into your home brings you a special sense of awareness for your environment that will stay with you all day long. 

Start the day by making the bed, cleaning up your room, washing dishes from the night before, or watering your houseplants. By paying close attention to what needs to be cleaned around the house (homemaking time!) you will start paying better attention to your own needs as well, while also not getting caught up in the lethargy of being home all day and getting nothing done. Additionally, the visual appeal of a clean space will let your mind rest easy.

If you want to go even farther with this one, then a great step to bettering mental health comes from addressing the skeletons in your closet...literally! Go into your closet (or a cluttered area of your house) and pull everything out, sort through it all, donate/sell what you don't need or want, and reset your life. This one is a real game-changer for when you're feeling stuck in life, unsure of what you need to do next. Not only are you cleaning and organizing, but you are also revisiting your past, taking note of what you stuffed away in the corners, and revitalizing needed things that you've lost. 

Clean space, clean mind. 

4. Go outside.

"There is pleasure in the pathless woods" - Lord Byron

Whether it be in your backyard or a nearby park or hiking trail, start taking advantage of every opportunity you have to be outside. 

There is something in the crispness of fresh air and the unfathomable blueness of the sky that calls upon the heart to pulse more deeply.  

Being outdoors will free you from the claustrophobia of monotony, for the natural world is ever-changing.

Even if you can still hear the sound of cars rushing past or people chattering, this does not negate the value of the outdoors. You do not have to be seated in a flowery meadow in the Swiss Alps in order to feel a breeze pure enough to cleanse the spirit. 

Do not be discouraged if your environment appears less than ideal, if the traffic won't stop and the only plot of grass to be found is in a park surrounded by concrete. 

Remember, winds travel all around the world. 

When you are in open air, you are in the arms of the universe. 

5. Breathe. 

Use your life force. 

Your breath paces your movement. If you are not paying attention to your breathing, then you are not fully conscious of your actions.

Allowing things to happen automatically can certainly seem easier, but taking the time to act intentionally, even down to the level of careful breathing, will make for a more fulfilling and balanced life. 

The more intentional you are, the higher your consciousness becomes.

Apply this lesson during all of the others. The same way that you participate in slowing down, start focusing your attention on the automatic functions you perform constantly. 

Where can you be putting more thought into your actions? Are you breathing intentionally and with your movement, or is your rhythm counterproductive?

Focus on having a longer exhale than inhale, we tend to short ourselves on letting it all out. It can be helpful to let out a big sigh every now and then to release that tension.

Do not underestimate the power of purposeful action.

Breathe deeply, consciously, and slowly.