From time immemorial being West Indian has been synonymous with being low-key and laid back. “Rush…but rush slowly” as we say. However, with the Covid-19 wave crashing into our already fragile economies, most of us have struggled with finding that balance and inner peace which once allowed for ‘laid back’ living.

Below we have shared 5 ways that we can be good to ourselves during this time without breaking the bank.

 1. Unplug and Unwind: Turn off your notifications from all devices while you sip on a piping hot cup of tea made from freshly picked ‘teabush’ and roots like lemongrass, mint, sage, basil, or ginger. Granny was right. ‘Bush Tea’ makes any and everything better.  

 2. Visit a country on your Bucketlist—at Home: Pick a country, perhaps a Caribbean destination that you’ve never visited. Spend a few hours learning about it. Play some of its local music and prepare its national dish. Whether it’s Antiguan saltish and fungi https://www.wadadlistyle.com/recipes/, Grenada “oil down” https://www.196flavors.com/grenada-oil-down/, or Bajan flying fish and cou cou https://barbados.org/barbados-recipes-cou-cou.htm#.YBdgTuhKhPY, you and all your senses are in for a treat.

3. Just Say NO: West Indians are renowned for their warmth and hospitality. However sometimes we need to preserve our mental health by saying NO to things that we genuinely don’t want to do. Setting these boundaries with family, friends and co-workers will help us to ease all the additional burdens that we are faced with.

4. Self-Care: The term self-care is trending, and this is a trend that most of us should be happy to get onboard with. Go ahead and treat yourself to a homemade facial mask using ingredients in your cupboard like honey or oats or a luxurious bath using coconut or hibiscus oils.

5. Connect: All it takes is a good conversation and a good cackle to release those well needed endorphins. Feel free to phone a friend or family member and have a long and uninhibited conversation. Laughter is always good for the soul!

Regardless of which outlet we choose, one thing that appears constant is the need to “take it slow” and the devotion to the preservation of body, mind and soul. Try these tips for a fantastic stay at home vacation. You deserve it.