Self-Isolation: Keeping Yourself Sane

So in England we're coming to towards the end of our first week in lockdown of most of the country. For those who can work from home or aren't part of essential companies/services we're confined to our homes. Rules have been put in place for our own safety that ensure we stay inside; we're only allowed out of our homes to one short period for exercise or to get shopping if there is no other way of getting it to your home.

In this time there have been posts across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter showcasing how people are coping with this new way of getting through the new regime (oof I made that sound so much more sinister than it is). Anyway, most social posts on there are humurous, people trying to find the lighter side of confinement; some post motivational content to help others get through the passing hours. For me, I don't tend to post on social media, instead I turn to writing (hence this post). However, there have been a few other tips that I've taken on board to stave of the inevitable boredom that myself and many others are going to feel...

Stick to the old routine...

This one I have found to be one of the more helpful tips for getting through lockdown. Even if you're confined to your homes it is possible to create a new routine that should help you manage the time you have available.

I'm one of the lucky people who is able to work from home, so thankfully getting on with my normal work is a great way to pass many hours in the day. One way I've been keeping motivated for work is by maintaining my usual routine that I would normally go through before work; like getting up early, showering, and preparing my desk for the day ahead. All of this mentally gets me into work mode, it has weirdly helped me stay motivated during my work hours.

Pick up an old hobby (or a new one)...

With more free time available to everyone it is the perfect time to get involved in something you enjoy but didn't previously have a lot of time to do. This could be something you've always done but only sparingly, something you used to do but gave up, or even something you've never tried but would like to give it a go.

While I've got more time available to me (when I'm not working of course), I'm getting so much more invested in my writing; whether it is on here, my blog, but more importantly on my own writing. My main goal in life is to at least get something I've written out there in the world - so I'm using this extra time to get any of my many novel or script ideas written down and finished to the point of being sent off to publishers and studios.

Call family and friends...

While we're all away from our family, friends and other loved ones, it can be quite lonely during this weird predicament we're all in. Not being able to see those you normally would can be rather frustrating; but have no fear, in the times of great technology at our disposal you can simply ring them (of course I don't need to tell you about phones, we're not in the dark ages), but its always a good reminder to call those you might not have spoken to in a while.

My sister and I have started daily facetime calls so that we can keep each other company, she benefits from living at home still so have our family network always around her, I however live in Nottingham which is a fair way from home. So, its nice that she keeps me involved with the goings on of the family. Then there is my Granny and Grandad, they have each other through all this, but not seeing them has been the crucial part of all this (there is no way I'm letting them get ill from all this). Calling them can be difficult with their inability to hear properly, but its still nice to hear their voices most days.

Finally, clean!

The one I'm sure most people will continue to put off even when there is nothing else to do, clean. Yes, now that we have too much time on our hands there is going to come a time when we'll need to grab the hoover, pull out the dust cloth and start scrubbing our homes clean.

This is the part I've not quite got to yet (naturally). Other than washing the dishes and wiping down the side every now and then - I'm still yet to give this house a deep clean. Then again, the weekend is coming up and with nothing to do than pace around the house or write, I'll probably have to give in at some point and start deep cleaning the house.

In conclusion...

At the end of the day, we've got a long couple of weeks ahead of us. None of us know how long this will last or even if the restrictions will get any tighter (boy I hope not). For now, we just all need to take it one day at a time, and work together (seperately of course) to get through this; whether that is by keeping yourself sane, or even helping the NHS and food retailers with the vast workload they now face.

There are going to be plenty more entries around this topic from myself and many more people on this site. So this won't be the last you've heard from me! (sorry, watching an action movie and got a bit invested in the villain then). Have a safe self-isolation!