Ten ways to look after yourself while in isolation

At the moment, many people are looking for ways to keep sane and happy while confined to their homes in isolation. While initially isolation might seem like a chance to catch up on work and relax, it can sometimes feel worrying or stressful to be alone at home. Here are some tips about how you can look after yourself and your health when in isolation.

Take a bath

Sometimes, the best way to relax is to settle down in a bath. There is evidence to show that having a bath rather than a shower offers your muscles a deeper relaxant. Settle down with a bath bomb or some essential oils and allow your body to release its stress.

Read

Being alone sometimes can feel like a strain, but if you’re lost in a good book, the time flies. If you’re the kind of person who never has time to read because they’re always dashing from one place to another, then catching up on some good books might be the ideal way to relieve anxiety and relax.

Keep in touch with friends and family

One of the hardest parts of self-isolation is… well, just that! Being isolated and alone can be alienating. But the good news is that nowadays it is easier than ever before to keep in touch with loved ones remotely. There are a number of apps that allow for easy face-to-face contact between those who are on opposite sides of the world.

Play games

When occupied with “flow” activities such as playing a game, the mind is free to process its stress and deal with it. Anything from a simple board or online card game to a strategy game on a smartphone or games console can serve the purpose of distracting us so that we can feel less stressed.

Learn a new hobby such as cooking

Using your time in isolation to develop your skills and learn can make the time feel useful rather than making you impatient. Learning to cook has the added benefit that you’ll have something great to eat at the end of it! There are a number of online courses that teach simple recipes, and depending on how much time you afford it, you can even graduate on to more sophisticated dishes.

Write down your thoughts and feelings

Sometimes the weight of stress is simply a product of repression – not talking about it to other people. But when in isolation, there may be fewer options of people to vent to. The solution here might be to write down your thoughts and feelings in a diary. Again, here writing down allows you to process your thoughts and feelings.

Do indoor exercise

Feeling energised and exercised is a key part of feeling well. In isolation it is easy to neglect the exercise part of your day. Even if you don’t normally exercise much, you are losing out on the low-level exercise that we all normally do – like walking to the shops. Doing a home workout or even just some yoga on your bedroom floor is a key way to keep healthy and improve your mood.

Get fresh air

It might be more difficult to get fresh air while in isolation, but it is a key part of keeping healthy and happy. Some people are lucky enough to have a balcony or garden to sit in and breathe in some outside air. For others, even opening a window can have a big effect on our mood.

Help someone

When stuck inside, the most difficult thing can sometimes be feeling like you’re inside your own head. Isolation can make us feel like we’re living in our own little world. But luckily there are a number of ways that we can help others who need it, even from our own homes. Apps that allow people to connect to the lonely and vulnerable, or even disabled, are one simple way that we can help those who need it during isolation.

Get good sleep

It’s a simple one, but one that we often neglect. Our health and wellbeing are intimately connected to our physical health, and a big part of that is how much sleep we get. Making sure we get at least seven hours a night can be a big factor in feeling well and happy during isolation.

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