It’s okay if you’ve self-isolated yourself for whatever reason it may be; whether it’s because it is extremely dangerous to step outside of the house, there’s suspected exposure to the virus and you’re quarantined, or you’ve chosen to stay home simply because you wish to prevent the spread of the virus. It’s okay.
It’s okay because this is definitely something you were unprepared for, and it is difficult for a human to take upon the loneliness that follows once you’ve self-isolated yourself. While those who’re sick or suffering from an illness are somewhat accustomed to staying alone for long periods, a lot of us are rather used to getting out of the house every single day, even if it is to run to some errands. Putting a sudden stop to life outside your house can be challenging, but here are some ways you could cope and make it through this pandemic unscathed.
1. The Ultimate Schedule
There was a “normal” that existed pre-corona, the regular schedule we followed every day, from your wake-up time, workout time, meal times, to your bedtime; take this normal and try to infuse it into your lifestyle today. You could try and add some Netflix bingeing into your schedule, create your ultimate dream schedule that you’ve always wanted to, but was always hindered by work/college, and stick to it.
2. Stay in Touch, Virtually.
It is not the 1990s and staying in touch with your loved ones does not depend on coffee houses or house parties. Lucky for us, we have the ever-evolving technology in our arsenal, which allows us to place video calls or voice calls; reach out to a friend you’ve been meaning to call for a long time. Socialise with your circle virtually, or join some online forums related to your areas of interest. Staying connected with others virtually may not be as equivalent to meeting them in person, agreed, but at this point, this is the safest option we have.
3. Stay Active, Mentally and Physically.
Crack the window open, let some breeze into your house. Try some low-impact workouts/yoga from YouTube videos, or maybe take a walk on the treadmill (if you have one). We often tend to forget that our mental and physical health is very delicately intertwined, and little amounts of daily movements regularly can contribute greatly to maintaining positive energy in your body. Staying active makes it easier for an individual to cope with the loneliness mentally.
4. Look Forward to the Future.
While it may seem that the “normal” will not be returning anytime soon, believe me, there will come a time when everything will return to its usual routines. But until that becomes a reality, why don’t we sit down and make a list of all the things you wish to do on the Independence Day against the Covid-19 – grabbing your favourite cup of coffee from the local barista or taking a walk by the beach; maybe a bucket list of all the places you’ve never been to and would love to visit. There’s always some time you could shell out for some optimism and daydreaming so that you’ve some beautiful things to look forward to post-pandemic.
5. Say Yes to Some Distraction!
Decide a number of books you wish to read in the duration of one month, pick a genre you’ve never tried or simply settle for some Agatha Christie mystery, take your pick. Read and take in all the words penned down by amazing authors, poets, bloggers from all across the globe. Watch a TED talk on a topic that catches your attention, or binge-watch a series on Netflix with a tub of popcorn, or maybe try something as simple as solving a Sudoku puzzle! This time is yours, and yours completely, do whatever that excites you and you’d be amazed by how quickly times passes then.
The thing is, you could go to work everyday, travel to work all by yourself, take solo trips across the country, but loneliness at home tends to hit differently. Staying alone from time to time was still okay until this pandemic began, and its end seems to be a mirage for most of us. The longer the pandemic stretches, the easier it is for our short-term loneliness to become long-term, which is why it’s important to take some efforts getting through these unprecedented circumstances.
