Firstly, I want to say I’m super proud of everyone as everything I have seen is an achievement to us all just getting on with what we are expected to do. It was hard hearing the ‘lock-down’ news presented to us all on Monday 23rd of March and it has affected each of us in our own ways whether that being cancelled events, not seeing loved ones, our jobs being lost or taking risks to be on the front line. Please do continue to support your local neighbours or check up on each of your friends and family. If you want to help further read through online advice and get involved:
Below are some of the ways I have been getting through self-isolation during the last four weeks.
Get Active.
We all know the many health benefits of being active and finding ways to exercise. Try to ensure each day you have included exercise in your daily routine. I have found it enjoyable being able to do dance and yoga classes I would normally be too busy working to do. There are many free online exercising apps and free online classes to take part in. I have been completing the following yoga classes including ‘Down Dog Yoga App’ (https://www.downdogapp.com/) and ‘Hot Pod Yoga Zoom Classes’ (https://hotpodyoga.com/). Also, each week I schedule dance classes or routines I want to learn such as Oti Mabuse’s 7.30pm Facebook class. Every Thursday I return to my old dance school DanceHouseUK at 3.30pm to complete a ballet class. Then I learn lyrical/ jazz and tap routines from performers on Instagram or YouTube.
If you don’t enjoy classes, another option is heading outside when you can! I plan a different route for a half hour walk each day.
Experiment with Meals & Treat yourself?
There are so many tasty recipes out there to try. It has been good to have mealtime to focus on experimenting and making different types of food. As we cannot go out to restaurants or get takeaways it has been fun making these meals at home. If you don’t have cook books I find certain easy websites to learn recipes from including ‘BBC Good Food’ (https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/) or ‘BBC Food’ (https://www.bbc.co.uk/food). It’s nice to look forward to an exciting new meal at dinner time or include a good old favourite that you choose at every restaurant. Also, they always say home cooking tastes better – why don’t you make dessert or make the weekly snacks? My favourite dish to make so far has been ‘Gino D’Acampo Rigatoni with peas and porcini mushrooms’. Also, my favourite snacks to make are homemade lemon slices.
Look after Yourself & Feel good?
When rushing to and from work in the city it doesn’t allow much time for self-care or wearing makeup that you haven’t rushed. Yes – my beauty appointments were cancelled for my birthday including having my nails done and treating my hair but it didn’t stop me from doing my nails at home (OPI nail varnish is pretty good) and sticking a face pack before doing my makeup. It’s important to feel good so maybe take time to dress up one night this week. Also, why don’t you treat yourself – I have a sparkly dress awaiting a night out when all of this is over!
Communicate with the World.
I’m passionate about staying in touch with people over this period as it will ensure people don’t have down days. If you had plans in your diary to go somewhere or to meet someone ensure you find ways to bring that to life as much as possible. Use Skype or zoom (https://zoom.us/) to have meet ups with multiple friends and family. Hold a Girls Night in, play music to dance to, and Facebook video stream it with your friends. Join an online virtual Quiz Evening (https://www.facebook.com/events/649536262488918/permalink/665862594189618/) or plan your own Pub Quiz via Zoom or plan team games on House Party (https://houseparty.com/). Can you answer the following questions?
1) What can you break, even if you never pick it up or touch it?
2) I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?
Or, if this isn’t anything you fancy, just step outside every Thursday at 8pm to clap for the NHS and you will feel comforted by everyone around you. Or take time to write loved one’s cards and messages the old-fashioned way. Or even find a pen pal – have you seen Stacey Solomon is writing to pen pals?
Keep a Routine.
It has been good to try to stick to Monday – Friday completing work projects or classes and then on the weekend allowing myself to do what I want whenever I want to. It is healthy to keep your routine of waking up and bedtime like what you would usually do to keep the mind focused and ready when we return to work. It is also good each day to change up activities otherwise you can feel sluggish and stuck if you’ve been doing the same activity for so many hours. Try to keep your mealtimes at a similar time to usual and completing home chores this helps us to not feel like this period of closure is forever.
I find writing out activities on Monday for the week on a timetable really helps me stay focused on getting things done even if they are completing with a TV show or choreographing a routine.
Self-Care & Well being is Key.
There are so many different websites out there to support families with well being or help individuals come up with ideas at home. We sent out the following link at my school for families to look through (https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/self-care/) I think there’s lots on here that can be done at home. I have taken up reading books I haven’t been able to get to before that were recommended. I have completed colouring pictures, lists and downloaded games to play on the PC/ PlayStation. I have played board games, sunbathed and listened to a lot of music. We also have time to listen to TED talks (https://www.ted.com/talks) or radio channels (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr).
Most importantly take time away from apps and social media by lighting candles to enjoy quiet time or spend an evening with each other talking.
Go to the Movies.
We all can easily get lost in films and have a lot of time to do this. There are lots of classic films out there that are perfect to watch during quarantine including The Kings Speech, Blindside, The Help, Shawshank Redemption, Inception, Parasite, The Godfather, Forest Gump or Rocky. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have caught up on a lot of TV series these last few weeks – any further suggestions? It has also been great as the National Theatre have offered free online theatre shows to watch (https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home) which we can pause for a snack break! If movies and theatre isn’t your idea of fun there are also many museums, zoos and theme parks you can complete virtual tours on (https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best-virtual-tours/).
Get Ahead of the Game.
We will never have this time again so it’s great use of time to think about projects or skills you want to complete. Can you get ahead for work as it will be busy when we return? Or have you had ideas to start up something or learn something new? There are plenty websites that are allowing free services during this time including teachers resources (https://www.twinkl.co.uk/sign-in). I have been using the time to complete online safeguarding courses via https://www.tes.com/institute/ and short online course via https://www.futurelearn.com/courses. It has also been a great period of time to follow up on my interest of learning British Sign Language http://www.british-sign.co.uk/learn-online-british-sign-language-course/.
Remember there maybe a day where you hide under your duvet and watch Netflix all day – and that’s okay too! Let me know what you have doing to get through each day at home. And please seek help by calling helplines on this website if you are finding this too much (https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/crisis-services/helplines-listening-services/).
Most importantly stay safe and stay at home with your friends and/or family. If you have any symptoms (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/) and are worried please self-isolate and call NHS 111 service.
We will get through this! <3
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