Keeping occupied during self-isolation can be challenging, especially for those fortunate to have been out and about prior to our current circumstances. Living with a particular chronic illness means that I am now housebound for 12 weeks as per UK government advice. I was actually relieved that stricter social distancing and self-isolation measures came into place, and we can only hope that it will greatly contribute to easing the pandemic we find ourselves living through.
Personally, I find following a loose schedule while also allowing myself, with no guilt, to be flexible in my activities to be the best approach. With everything feeling so overwhelming right now, taking the time to ‘feel the feels’ is important. It’s OK to feel scared, vulnerable and at a loss with what to do for the best. So if you need an hour, afternoon or even whole days to grieve our circumstances, that is OK. It’s not a priority to be productive to your usual levels right now.
Jump to:
Starting the day
I like to feel as though I have ‘started my day’ even if I do it a bit slower than usual. It’s tempting to stay in bed and read every news item you can find, but I try to limit this to about ten minutes on one trusted news site. It’s way too easy to spend an hour scrolling and getting more and more upset. Lately I have moved my ‘news time’ to later in the morning so I don’t begin my day that way. I have to say that I have felt much better for it.
Work or focused activities
A few days into self-isolation I walked around the house in a sort-of limbo after getting ready in the morning. Walking from room to room not quite knowing what to do. There seemed to be so much to do, but nothing seemed important either. I found myself scrolling the news again. Or just staring into space with so many thoughts whirring around my head. As the Spoonie Mummy writes about in her post on anxiety in lockdown, consuming the news too much can only exacerbate that, and I needed to step away from the TV.
Getting to ‘work’ or doing a focused activity has really helped with this. This blog has been the best medicine, so-to-speak, for me during this difficult time. As well as choosing this time to do a website redesign (yes, odd timing I know!), being able to sit and pour my energy into new posts and research new low histamine recipes has been such a positive. I really can switch off for a few hours.
While many of you won’t be bloggers, I know most companies are now having their employees work from home. Or you may have your own business or side-hustle to focus attention on.
Of course, work isn’t the only focused activity right now. More practical issues such as ordering an online food shop take a lot of time (if you can even get a delivery slot . . .), the house needs cleaning and there’s the usual life admin to take care of. I try and do this quite intentionally now, setting aside my phone and putting my attention to the task in hand.
New interests and hobbies
Being inside four walls all the time is hard. If you are in the right headspace, taking up a new interest is helpful for keeping a positive mindset. It’s great to get caught up in something new and feel productive in a creative way. Learning can be such an achievement, or a new relaxing hobby can feel restful and calming.
At the moment I’ve been watching YouTube videos on people hiking the Appalachian trail, doing the most difficult jigsaw possible (Where’s Wally with 1000 tiny complicated pieces) so that my niece and I can compare our puzzle handiwork via FaceTime and figuring out more low histamine recipes to share here with you. I’ve read through Jamie Oliver’s Veg cookbook and bookmarked favourite recipes, and I'm considering opening the copy of War and Peace that has been on my bookshelf for months years . . .(!) The BBC series of it was brilliant.
My mum has turned her thoughts to learning more about the features on her laptop (she was purely an email and upload photos kind of user before!), and my dad has gotten back into photography skills. Stuck at home while 7 months pregnant, my sister is all about suitable low intensity workouts she can do in her front room.
Online resources, displays and virtual tours
Lots of organisations, museums and galleries are now putting their collections, displays and resources online for free. Some are offering virtual tours too. It’s a really lovely way to spend some time.
Museums and galleries
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Gardens and nature
For children
Exercise
For the first 4 or 5 days of self-isolation I barely did anything. I would be surprised if I got to 2000 steps. Sitting on the couch in disbelief was all I could manage.
Inevitably my hips started to ache, my legs felt even more stiff than usual and my dysautonomia symptoms started to flare-up. Exercise has always been a huge part of managing my conditions, so I set myself a goal of doing a minimum of 20 minutes a day. Often when I start I feel more motivated and do far more.
Some ideas:
Pedals - If you have a pedal exerciser or can order one online, then I really recommend it. I had one in the loft from years ago and I’m so glad I didn’t throw it out. Simply sit or lean back on a chair and pedal away. It’s easy, and the pedals don’t take up much space and can be folded up. Top tip – put on a YouTube video for the amount of time you want to pedal for!
Yoga – there are lots of great Yoga instructors on YouTube, but my favourite is Yoga with Adriene. All you need is a mat or towel and you are ready to go. Choose from a relaxing routine, or something more energetic depending on your mood or what you need that day.
Resistance workouts – if you have some dumbbells, a kettlebell or a resistance band, there are tons of online workouts to follow. The Nike app is great, although I would say it is for those more advanced fitness-wise, as are the Shreddy workouts. For those at a more beginner-level, YouTube is your friend. Do a google and take it easy to start with.
Kid-friendly workouts – also on YouTube, my nieces are loving to do the Joe Wickes workouts each morning. Designed for kids, and made really fun for them, it will help them burn up excess energy!
Cooking
After an online food shop was cancelled 45 minutes after it was supposed to arrive, I was down to a butternut squash, frozen sweetcorn and half an onion in terms of vegetables. I had plenty of pantry staples such as oats, rice and quinoa though, so I had to get creative in the kitchen. I came up with, you guessed it, a butternut squash, sweetcorn and quinoa ‘stew’ that was really delicious.
Cooking has always been my time to switch off. With fewer ingredients to play with, now is the time to get creative in the kitchen. Raid the freezer for that last bit of frozen veg, look to your pantry for starches, herbs, nuts and seeds, coconut milk, pre-done sauces or that mystery soup/ stew/ whatever-it-was that you froze months ago and forgot about.
Make it fun too. I love to listen to podcasts while I cook or put some music or the radio on (maybe not to a news station). Use your favourite china, and pour a glass of wine or soda. Heck, if you want to, set the table with your fancy place settings, dim the lights and light a candle or two.
Some cookbooks with easy recipes:
Jamie Oliver, 5 ingredients: Quick and Easy Food
Claire Thomson, New Kitchen Basics: 10 essential ingredients, 120 recipes
Keeping in touch with friends and family
I think this is the most important part of my day. Phone, text and FaceTime is amazing for keeping in touch with our loved ones. Online communities are fantastic for being supportive, and being part of the chronic illness community via my Instagram page has been so helpful.
Self-care
Self-care means all different things to each us. It can mean everything from doing a facemask and an at-home pedicure to meditation or practicing affirmations.
It can also mean doing something you really enjoy. I’ve come to ‘schedule’ a fun thing to do late afternoon. It’s like a date with myself. I put on an old movie I have seen a dozen times before that feels comforting and relaxing, or search YouTube for new videos by my favourite content creators. With a cup of coffee and maybe a sweet treat too, it’s a time just for me and that feels important when life is overwhelming.
Board games and jigsaws are great, so too is that novel you have meant to read for months but didn’t ever get to. Colouring books are loved by many, and I have the best sloth colouring book that my sister got me for my last birthday. Gardening, if you have a back yard, is a great way to spend some time in the sunshine.
Set aside your phone or use apps to do so!
Compulsive scrolling is a habit many of us indulged in even prior to our current situation. It’s so tempting to ‘just’ check the next thing, and before you know it you're looking at pictures of your brother-in-law’s mother’s dog on Instagram. Now, the temptation is to monitor the news and latest updates . . .
Setting aside my phone has been really powerful for helping with mental health. I either put it in a different room with the ringer up high in case someone needs to get a hold of me, or use a productivity app. I use the Forest app, where you ‘grow’ a virtual tree or plant for a period of time. The tree will wither during that time, and it’s a surprisingly good motivation to stop mindlessly scrolling. Plus you can build up points and trade them in for a real tree to be planted on your behalf. It’s a lovely idea.
Over to you!
I'm sure there are hundreds of other ideas for keeping busy during self-isolation, with organisations providing online resources that I am not familiar with. Why not share your ideas below in the comments so we can all help each other out? It would be wonderful to do so.
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Nikki Michelle Albert says
I have been doing the same as usual I guess. I haven't been able to get out and about much lately anyway. So a Lot of rest and modest hobbies that keep me from going nutbars. lol
throughthefibrofog says
haha! It's definitely tough to be indoors all the time, but I think there are so many ways to keep occupied online now aren't there.