We all know what we should be doing during the COVID-19 crisis – staying home social distancing if we have to go out. It’s about keeping ourselves and everyone around us safe, especially elderly people and those who have health issues.
But what do we do for the next month? How to we keep from going stir-crazy in our individual ‘jails’? Here are some ideas to help make the time go by faster.
Keep to routines
Now is not the time to let everything slide. Go to bed and get up at regular times, cook and eat regular meals, keep to your hygiene regimen, and don’t slop around in your pyjamas. Dress as though you might get visitors at any moment – even though you won’t.
Go outside, but not far
Spend time in the sunshine for a few minutes every day. Walk in your garden or around the block. Keep your distance from anyone you see, or take your walk early in the morning or at dusk to avoid people.
Exercise every day
Find a YouTube video to follow, or play your favourite dance music to move to. Do some vigorous housework like vacuuming or mopping floors, or some calming exercise like yoga. We have more ideas here if you’re stumped.
Keep in touch
Thank goodness for modern technology! Talk to someone every day, either through a phone call or a face-to-face digital catch-up. Free programmes like Skype or Facebook Messenger make this easy, and people with iPhones can use FaceTime.
Keep eating and drinking water
When your world turns upside down, that’s when a lot of people stop eating the way they should. Some lose their appetites while others gobble junk food. Try to keep mealtimes regular, cook and eat healthy food and drink plenty of water. You now have time to try new recipes, so go for it!
Look after yourself and delight your senses
Sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell and movement can all be enhanced with a few simple aids. Put together comfort kits for yourself and the people in your bubble. Think soft blankets, teddy bears, hot chocolate, photo albums, soothing music, lavender oil, chewing gum – all gathered around a rocking chair. Keep a journal, draw pictures, read comforting or inspiring books – and relax.
Give your bubble some space
It’s a stressful time that can rub nerves raw. Do your best to forgive temper tantrums, and give each person as much space as you can. Avoid arguments, don’t hold grudges, and try to keep calm through the lockdown.
Don’t fixate on the crisis
It’s important to know what’s going on, but not a good idea to be continually discussing COVID-19 on Facebook. So much ‘news’ out there is fake, exaggerated or just wrong. Get your information from official channels, and don’t check those more than two or three times a day.
Get things done you’ve been putting off
Everyone has jobs that need doing ‘when there’s time’. Well, now there’s time, so get cracking! Sort out your mountain of knitting wool, clean out that filing drawer, mend toys, clean the fridge, and deal to that over-full closet.
Or you could start something you always wanted to do – take online piano lessons, paint a picture, sew a quilt, read all the books in a series, and finally get to that family tree project. Engage your mind, focus your attention and let the world go away for a bit.
Don’t forget to laugh
Don’t feel bad when you laugh at the memes people post about the crisis – it’s healthy and normal to turn terrible times into jokes. Humour is our way of dealing with tragedy, so make the most of those moments. It’s also a good idea to get away from the whole subject, and laugh for the sake of laughter. Find some favourites shows or movies and make sure you laugh every day.
Don’t do it alone
You may not be allowed to be near others right now, but there are still people who are available when you need to talk. If you’ve been in therapy, these sessions can continue. Meanwhile, stick to routines, comfort and distract yourself, keep moving, and stay positive. If you’re just not coping, reach out – one of those heroes will be there for you – just virtually.