How to Look After Yourself in Isolation

With governments around the world announcing lockdowns and closing all but essential public buildings, we're all going to be spending a lot more time at home. For some people, this will provide the perfect opportunity to relax, recharge and spend some time focusing on what's most important to them. For most people, however, this will be a huge shift in their daily routine and could prove very challenging. The most important thing to focus on during isolation is your mental and physical wellbeing. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the things that you can do to feel your best during isolation.

1. Break up your day into smaller chunks.
   When you're not going out and doing your regular, day to day activities, the days can start to feel very monotonous. By breaking up your day into smaller chunks, and setting out time for your meals and different activities, you'll feel much more fulfilled by the end of the day.

2. Stay connected.
   Being in isolation doesn't mean you have to feel isolated. Checking up on your friends, scheduling video chat hangouts or even watching the same film at the same time while messaging each other are all great ways to help you feel less alone. Remember, social distancing doesn't mean emotional distancing.

3. Get moving.
   For many people, staying physically active is key to maintaining good mental health. Not only that but by cutting out your daily commute or walk to meet your friends cuts out vital exercise from your life. If you're allowed out of the house, make a point of going for a walk or run every day. If not, try having a danceathon with your family or doing some of the many fitness classes available for free online.

4. Do more than one thing.
   It can be difficult avoiding the temptation to binge-watch tv all day, but you'll quickly become bored if you're doing this every day. Try to come up with a few different activities you enjoy, such as computer games, reading a book, doing some arts and crafts, learning a language or playing an instrument, and split up your time between these different activities. By limiting your intake of each hobby, you'll find that you look forward to doing them each day.

5. Set out some 'you time' each day.
   With your family at home with you all day, and your friends messaging you round the clock, it's important that you set out some 'you time' each day. Even just booking in half an hour each day where you turn off your phone and shut your door will help you emotionally recharge.

6. Learn something new.
   We're all finding that we have a lot more time on our hands than we've had before, so why not put that time to good use? There are countless ways of learning new skills online (many of which are free), so why not learn that thing you've always wanted to know how to do? You could even document your progress in a vlog or blog!

7. Cut yourself some slack.
   With so much time to do all the things you want to do, it's all too easy to put pressure on yourself when you don't do them. This is a stressful time for a lot of people, and that can result in you feeling tired and not wanting to do anything. While it's important to do some things on some days, remember to allow yourself time to do nothing without feeling guilty about it.

8. Reach out for help when you need it.
   For some people, doing just some of the points above will make them feel better, and for others, it won't. Perhaps you suffer from mental health issues or have a difficult home life, or perhaps you're just finding it all a bit difficult. It takes a lot of courage to reach out for help in times of need, but there are so many places you can go for help. If you're in need of support and don't feel like you can talk to a friend or member of family, consider reaching out to one of these organisations:

   • Young Minds

   • Childline

   • Samaritans

   • The Mix

   • Women's Aid

   • Citizen's Advice