When you first entered isolation, you may well have reflected on your life before isolation – what you liked/didn’t like and how motivated or inspired you were in the regular rhythm of normal life. Now I want you to reflect on your current experience. How fulfilled do you feel at the end of each day and each week? If you feel totally awesome, then skip reading this bit and go ahead straight to the relaxation and lying down otherwise ask yourself how could I enrich my experience of daily life at home? What do I need more of?
DIY life-improvement actions
1. Connection: make a note of 2 or 3 friends/family member that you really want to reach out to this week.
2. Mental stimulation: order those books that you have been meaning to read for I don’t know how long! Or if reading isn’t your thing, download some podcasts (I can recommend Brené Brown’s “Unlocking Us”) to listen to with your morning coffee. Or maybe learn a new language? So many courses online right now! However you do it, feed your brain!
3. Comfort: consider self-care routines that you enjoy and try to do one a day. Bubble bath? Stretching after a hot shower? Meditation? Sitting down with a good book? Whatever floats your boat, but pay it attention.
4. Relaxation: maybe plan in some more yoga (see below!) or daytime naps… So good for you!
5. Release: Up the exercise! You don’t want to feel like a lion in a cage. The “right amount” really varies from person to person so do enough that you get that chemical boost.
Isolation is a marathon not a sprint so take each day as it comes and repeat things that make you feel good. Awareness is key when living in a small space with loved ones – what do I need today? This question needs to be a daily consideration. If you are good, then you can be good for everyone else and we all need each other right now!