101 Things To Do In Social Isolation During The Corona Virus

Hey guys,

How are you all doing? I hope you're all keeping safe and well, have enough supplies, and are coping well if you're social-isolating or are in lock down right now.

I've been self-isolating with chronic illness for the last eight and a half years, so having to isolate through this pandemic makes very little difference to my daily life. I'm already used to living in isolation, but I can appreciate how difficult it must be for those of you who aren't used to spending a lot of time at home. Even I've been going stir crazy knowing I can't leave the house for the foreseeable future- and this is my way of life!

From reading other blogs and keeping up with social media, it's clear most people are going stir crazy and finding confinement difficult already, but I promise you, it does get easier as time goes on. For me, forging a routine, and finding ways to fill my day and keep myself busy have been the key to coping through almost a decade of being housebound, and I really couldn't recommend those methods for coping through Covid-19 isolation to you more. Get in to a routine, find a purpose, and keep yourself busy. These things really do make all the difference, and should help keep you sane.

If you're currently bored stiff and wondering what you could possibly do from home besides watching TV, reading, and building a tower out of your hoarded toilet rolls, don't worry; I've got you covered. I've written a whole list of activities that you can do to keep yourself busy during social isolation / lockdown, in the hope that I can help make this awful and frightening situation a little easier for you to cope with. There are all sorts of ideas on the list, from crafting to stargazing, so I hope you can find at least a few ideas that will interest you and keep you going.

101 Things to do in Social Isolation:

1. Read. It's the perfect time to get through some of those books on your to be read list. If you don't have a stack of books waiting to be read, there are loads of free and inexpensive Kindle Books to take advantage of, and plenty of places to find cheap books online, such as Amazon, The Works, and eBay.

2. Relax with your favourite magazine and a cuppa. When was the last time you read a magazine? I can't even remember- and I used to read them all the time.

3. Have a movie marathon. Every day if you want to.

4. Write a list of all the movies you've always wanted to see, and make it your mission to watch them all.

5. Binge-watch a box set (or fifty).

6. Make some cheerful new playlists then listen to your favourite tunes up loud.

7. Write a letter to a friend or relative. (Avoid licking the envelope and stamp, to be safe).

8. Write a letter to your future self or for your kids to read when they reach a certain age or milestone.

9. Relax with an adult colouring book. Colouring in really does help you to destress and unwind, and offers a great distraction from all those worries that might be troubling you right now.

10. Dig out your art supplies and create some art. Sketch, paint, pastel, charcoal... there are so many options to try.

11. Have a go at art journaling.

12. Do some bullet journaling and create some beautiful layouts.

13. Keep a daily diary. It could act as a form of therapy during this ordeal, and be interesting to look back on life during the virus when the outbreak is over. One day it'll come in handy for your kids / grandkids doing school assignments on this virus.

14. Document your isolation experience on your blog, vlog, or social media channels.

15. Blog. If you blog, it's a good time to get ahead on your content; if you don't, it could be a great time to start one. It's a fantastic outlet, and you'll never be bored again. I started one to keep myself occupied soon after I became housebound with chronic illness, and it's kept me sane and occupied for eight whole years so far!

16. Create killer flatlays for your blog content, and take blog photos in bulk.

17. Catch up on all your favourite blogs, and search for some new blogs to follow.

18. Edit all those photos you've never got around to editing.

19. Read light-hearted articles online. Bored Panda, The Dodo, and Buzzfeed are great for some inspiring, uplifting, and amusing relief.

20. Watch cute animal videos online. Who doesn't feel better after watching a video of puppies or kittens being adorable??

21. Play computer games. I personally love Animal Crossing. It's great for destressing and using your creativity, and it's the perfect form of escapism. The newest game in the series, Animal Crossing New Horizons, just came out on the Nintendo Switch, and it's really helped to distract me and keep me calm this past week. I'm already obsessed. (If you don't have a Switch, the Pocket Camp app is great, too, and it's free on the iPhone!) If you don't hear from me for a few months, this game is why! 

22. Break out the board games. A good game of Monopoly or Scrabble could keep you and your family occupied for hours.

23. Play card games like Gin Rummy, Patience, and Poker- online or the good old fashioned way with a deck of cards.

24. Complete a jigsaw puzzle.

25. Keep your brain active with puzzles like crosswords and Sudoku.

26. Get your craft on. Crafting is the perfect way to pass the time indoors and making something with your own two hands is so satisfying, too. The options are endless, but you could:

27. Knit or crochet something.

28. Make a cross stitch or embroidery.

29. Make a spring / Easter wreath.

30. Sew a piece of clothing.

31. Try card making.

32. Hand-stamp your own wrapping paper.

33. Decoupage something.

34. Make your own jewellery.

35. Try needle felting.

36. Have a go at punch needling.

37. Make something out of clay.

38. Get stuck in to model-making.

39. Have a go at paper-cutting.

40. Paint mandalas on garden pebbles.

41. Make a mosaic.

42. Try candle-making.

43. Make yourself a supply of reusable cleansing pads / dish cloths etc.

44. Upcycle a piece of furniture.

45. Create a collage.

46. Put together a scrapbook.

47. Learn calligraphy.

48. Have a go at creative writing. I'd recommend the Things To Write books like 642 Things To Write, 642 Stories To Write, and 742 More Things To Write if you want to do lots of it and need some writing inspiration.

49. Write that novel you've always wanted to write.

50. Bake something delicious. Cakes and cookies make any situation better. Fact.

51. Cook a new recipe... that's if you have enough ingredients in your cupboards to get creative.

52. Have a carpet picnic.

53. Have a real picnic in your back garden. Or just go and enjoy your lunch out in the garden when the sun is shining.

54. Have a barbecue. It might take you a couple of hours to light the charcoal, which will keep you busy for a while.

55. Catch up on housework.

56. Organise your wardrobe and dressing table. Throw out, recycle, sell, and donate what you no longer need or use.

57. Have an early spring clean of all the rooms in your house.

58. Do some redecorating or get on to those DIY jobs that have been neglected for the last five years.

59. Repair anything that need repairing. Now is the time to sew on those lost buttons, fix that loose shelf, and superglue that broken figurine back together.

60. Do some gardening. There's sure to be something that needs cutting back, digging up, planting, or weeding.

61. Plant seeds and watch your seedlings grow every day.

62. Sow a veggie patch. If you don't have a garden, you could even grow some in a window box.

63. Feed and water your plants.

64. Tidy your garage / shed.

65. Sit in your garden or on your balcony and appreciate the sunshine and nature around you.

66. Organise your photo albums.

67. Organise, delete, and back up your digital files.

68. Catch up on emails and clear out your email inboxes.

69. Participate in a daily Instagram photo challenge. There are always loads of challenges going around for all kinds of niche topics like fashion, art, and reading, as well as general get-to-know-me challenges, and monthly / holiday related ones.

70. Fill in some fun templates on your Instagram stories.

71. Learn a new language.

72. Learn how to play an instrument, or a new song on an instrument you already play.

73. Google a topic you're unfamiliar with and learn as much as you can about it online.

74. Take an ecourse.

75. Keep your mind and body active by doing some exercise or meditation.

76. Dance like nobody is watching. It's good for the soul.

77. Take your dog for a walk- but remember to keep your distance from other people.

78. Play with your pets. 

79. Teach your dog / rabbit / rat some new tricks.

80. Groom / bathe your pet.

81. Trim your pet's nails.

82. Take a long relaxing bubble bath.

83. Have a pamper session with a face mask, foot spa, mani pedi etc.

84. Try your hand at some nail art.

85. Attempt a new make up look.

86. Get out your old photo albums and reminisce about the good times.

87. Find escapism in beautiful images on Instagram.

88. Pin inspiring images on Pinterest, and create lots of boards on topics that interest you.

89. Call / Skype / message family and friends. It's important to stay connected as much as possible. You can lift each other up and feel sorry for yourselves together.

90. Spend some quality time with the family / friends / housemates you live with.

91. Earn some extra pennies taking surveys online. Depending on the website, you can earn money or gift cards to spend with your favourite online shops. They don't pay a lot, and most are pretty boring, but the money soon adds up. I've made £150 so far this year on Swagbucks, and I've only been taking a survey here and there, and not putting in any real effort. I wrote a post about earning money through surveys here if you want to learn more.

92. Build a blanket fort and hide away from reality with a good book and a supply of snacks.

93. Take a nap. Everything feels better after a nap.

94. Continue working or studying from home.

95. Dye your hair.

96. Pick flowers from the garden and make a pretty bouquet to brighten up the house.

97. Get out in to the garden on a clear night and stargaze. You could even look for shooting stars during The Lyrid meteor shower, which starts from the 16th of April and ends around the 25th.

98. Dig around in the attic and see what old memories you can find.

99. Look back through old home movies.

100. Plan all the fun things you're going to do as soon as the virus has passed, isolation is over, and life has returned to normal again.

101. Be kind to yourself. You're doing great.

And there we have it: 101 things you can do to keep yourself busy during social isolation and lockdown.

I hope this post has given you some inspiration on how to distract yourself while you're stuck at home riding out this terrible outbreak, and it helps make this crazy period of time a little easier for you.

It's not going to be easy, but we're going to get through this, and hopefully come out the other side with a new found appreciation for life, the outside world, and all those things we used to take for granted in our lives. In the meantime, we're all going to become so accomplished, and our houses will never have looked cleaner.

Stay strong, and stay safe. And remember you're not alone; we're all in this together.

What is keeping you sane through lockdown / isolation? Is there anything missing from my list? Feel free to add ideas in the comments.

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40 Ways To Beat Cabin Fever

40 Ways To Beat Cabin Fever

I spend the majority of my time cooped up at home, thanks to chronic pain and a few debilitating health conditions. People often ask me how I do it; how I can spend so much time confined between the same four walls without going stir crazy. I always tell them the same thing: I do go stir crazy, just like everybody else. Some days I'm practically climbing the walls, desperate to escape back to the excitement of the big wide world where the cure for cabin fever lies. Some days I feel so trapped I can barely breathe; I hate being tethered, but I don't have much choice in the matter. The truth is, in the five years I've been house-bound, I've just learned how to keep cabin fever at bay and how to pacify it when it does strike; I've had plenty of time to iron out the kinks, after all.

Why am I telling you this? Well, I figure most of us suffer from cabin fever from time to time, whether we're stuck at home because of illness, accident, unemployment, poor weather, loneliness, family commitments, waiting on a delivery, or for one of countless other reasons, so I thought I'd share some of my tried and tested tips for beating cabin fever in the hope of making your next bout that little bit easier. I hope they help!

1. Let's start with an obvious one: get out of the house if you're able to. Go for a walk or a drive, meet up with friends or do something fun. Just go do something. Anything.

2. Get out in to the garden or on to your balcony for some fresh air and vitamin D. Perhaps do some gardening, exercise, play sports with your kids or fetch with your dog, or just sit and enjoy the sunshine.

3. Open a window or your patio doors and let the fresh air in.

4. Turn the heating off / down so the house is less stuffy.

5. Take a nap and sleep it off. Naps make everything better. Fact.

6. Take a cool refreshing shower or wash your face with cold water to perk yourself up.

7. Change your clothes daily, even if it's just putting on a fresh pair of PJs.

8. Have a tidy and declutter to make the house less claustrophobic.

9. Make your home feel so cosy and inviting that you'll never want to leave.

10. Keep fresh flowers or plants in the house to add some life. If you can't go out to buy some, perhaps cut some from the garden.

11. Avoid watching travel shows, reading travel posts, or looking at travel photos on the net- they'll probably only aggravate your cabin fever.

12. Alternatively, if you think it will help you, do watch travel shows, read travel posts, and look at travel photos on the net and live vicariously through others.

13. Plan something fun to look forward to and focus on- a holiday, a concert, a trip to the beach, even a catch up with friends over coffee or cocktails... I find it's easier to cope with captivity when I know I have a break from it on the horizon, and something exciting to keep going for.

14. Keep yourself occupied at all times, so you don't just sit around bored out of your mind dwelling on your confinement. Distraction is key.

15. Mix things up- a routine can become so boring and predictable that it can feel like you're living a Groundhog Day life, making cabin fever rage. Do different things each day you're stuck at home, or at least do them in a different order to stop the days blurring in to one.

16. Start a project that will take some time to complete- make a cross stitch picture, crochet a blanket, write a novel, blog, upcycle a piece of furniture, paint, redecorate, start a new computer game... anything that will keep you busy for a while.

17. Get lost in a good book; after a while you'll forget you're stuck indoors, as you'll be submerged in another world. It's a good opportunity to get through some of the unread books on your bookshelf.

18. If you can't leave the house, invite friends or family over for dinner or a night in- bring the fun and company to you.

19. Play some 'happy' tunes up loud.

20. Watch a feel good movie or two.

21. Phone up a friend for a catch up.

22. Write and let your feelings and frustration out on to paper or screen. You don't need to share your words with anyone, but emptying them from your mind can help to lighten the weight on your shoulders.

23. Pamper yourself. Have a bubble bath, light some candles, put on a face mask, give yourself a mani-pedi, and just let yourself unwind. Heaven!

24. Bake something so the house smells inviting. Plus you get to eat something delicious afterwards, which is always a bonus.

25. Treat yourself to a tasty meal, whether it's a home-cooked favourite, or a cheeky takeaway. You'll be so full and content that you'll not want to leave the comfort of your sofa for the rest of the night. 

26. Make a list of all the things you want to do as soon as you're able to leave the house again, and start planning one or two of them.

27. Get around to all those odd jobs you've been meaning to do but have never quite found time for.

28. Hang out with your pets. Just spending time with them can make a huge difference to our moods, and stoking their coats can help to calm and relax us. Spending time at home isn't so bad when you've got an awesome buddy to hang out with.

29. Talk to a friend or a family member about how you're feeling. Venting your feelings can really help to pacify them.

30. Sit by a window and watch the world go by. Watch people going about their various concerns, rain falling from the sky, animals scurrying around, the wind moving through the trees... whatever you can see.

31. Stretch your legs around the house every now and then.

32. Spend time in different rooms, where possible, to change up your day a little. A change of scenery can do us some good.

32. Eat well and drink plenty of water so that you don't feel sluggish.

33. If you're at home for some time due to an illness, injury, or disability and are fortunate to have a great support system around you, don't shut yourself off from the people in your life. Let them be there for you. Believe me, feeling like you're alone in the world will only make cabin fever feel so much worse.

34. If you are alone and lonely, and don't feel like anybody can relate to the reason you're cooped up at home,  connect with like-minded people online. Talk to people going through the same situation or who share the same interests as you. Forge friendships. Build an online support network. It might just help you deal with what you're going through, and help to ease the symptoms of cabin fever.

35. Do whatever it is you enjoy most that can be done from home.

36. If you get claustrophobic and the walls start closing in, remember to breathe. Take lots of deep breaths, and concentrate on breathing in and out until it passes.

37. Make yourself as comfortable as possible while you're at home. Wear comfy clothes, go bra-less, if applicable (ladies you know what I'm talking about!), bring your duvet on to the sofa, spend a day in bed... do whatever you need to do to make yourself comfortable and relaxed. Make your confinement as pleasant as you can.

38. Open your curtains / blinds every day to let the light in. Hiding yourself away in the darkness like the Phantom of the Opera won't do your mental health any favours.

39. Use this time to learn something new. Perhaps you've always wanted to learn how to paint using watercolours, maybe you've always dreamed of learning how to play the guitar, decorate cakes, knit, start a blog, master creative writing, or learn a language. Being stuck indoors doesn't have to eat away at your life; it can add life to it!

40. If you're cooped up for a prolonged period because of your health and feel like you're not coping well mentally, speak to your doctor. He or she might be able to help you, or at least refer you to someone who can. Don't suffer in silence. Ask for help.

If you're looking for more ways to occupy yourself while house-bound, check out my 50 Ways To Beat Boredom At Home.

How do you fight cabin fever?

A Fever You Can't Sweat Out

Lately, I've been struggling with a severe case of cabin fever and it's been so bad that for a few days last week it was really getting me down. I don't succumb to it often and I'm usually absolutely fine because I'm comfortable with my own company and have enough to keep myself busy with, but sometimes I do find it difficult to be stuck in bed all alone, living this Groundhog Day life with searing hot pain screaming at me and not backing down.

Last week was one of those weeks. I was far too aware of how much I am missing out on in life, and all I wanted was to get out and go live it.

My Mum realised how miserable I was at some point (I usually keep those kind of emotions hidden well) and got me out of the house for a bit on Thursday afternoon last week. It'd been about ten days since I'd last escaped captivity; if I'd remained indoors for much longer without a reprieve I would probably have started pacing like a big cat trapped in a tiny cage at the zoo.

We ended up driving over to a garden centre not far from Oxford, for a wander around their interiors department and farm shop. It was such a beautiful day, all blue skies, sunshine, and a really muggy twenty degrees, so we decided to first take a stroll around the animal pens outdoors.

This garden centre isn't a typical garden centre. It's set out in the country on a generous amount of land, with its own pick-your-own farm that grows everything from strawberries to pumpkins, depending on the season. It has a well-stocked farm shop with all kinds of interesting and expensive goodies, a craft shop, an interiors department, a maize maze in the summer, and even animal paddocks set alongside an enormous lake lined with lush green trees.

Sadly, the lake isn't accessible from the garden centre and it's probably privately owned, but it can be seen from the path around the animal paddocks, and it makes for the most scenic, tranquil walk. I'm a big animal lover, so I always enjoy having a wander down to see them. Yes, I'm just a big kid at heart!

My Mum was armed with some carrots from the farm shop, and as soon as these Jacob's Sheep saw them, they all trotted over to us in a synchronised fashion from where they were lying in the shade!

This greedy little ram wasn't shy in asking for more carrots.

He also did a spot of modelling for the camera...

They have two Kune-Kune pigs and this grunting little dude came over to say hello. Doesn't he have a face like Ludo from Labyrinth? Just me? Okay, then.

This pony spotted the carrots from a hundred feet away, and trotted over, demanding food by tapping her right hoof a few times. There's was a sign saying not to feed the ponies, but it was hard to refuse such a polite / cheeky little pony. We did sneak her a little piece.

I fell in love with this cheeky little bull. He kept sticking his tongue out at us! And would you look at his hair cut; such a handsome boy! If I could've taken him home, I would have!

In the next paddock along were two fluffy white alpacas, and a solitary bull.

Right at the bottom is a paddock that's home to three rheas, which, if you're not familiar with them, are emu-like birds, but smaller. I got the impression that this one wanted to hurt me.

This one was much more docile, and was contentedly sitting on a nest right at the front of the fence, methodically adding more straw from neck's reach. Thankfully, there's a big enough gap between the fence of the enclosure and the fence surrounding it, to stop people harassing him off his nest.

The path continues down a little further, but the rheas are the last animals to be seen, so we turned around and headed back in the direction of the garden centre. On the other side of the path is a gazebo which over looks the lake, and we popped in so I could take a few pictures and have a quick rest.

I immediately noticed ripples dancing on the water close to the shore, and after watching them for a few minutes, I eventually spotted the large green-brown fish that created them darting about in the shallows. I think it was a trout, but my knowledge of fish is mostly limited to those kept as pets, so really it could've been anything.

The view from the gazebo is absolutely breath-taking. The lake is surrounded by banks and fields of lush green grass which stretch down in to the countryside. You can see fields of sunny yellow rape seed just beyond the trees in the distance, and all kinds of trees line the lake and the land around it; including several willows which have always been my favourite. The lake is so calm and serene, and home to all sorts of water foul including various ducks, swans and geese.

This is a view I would love to sit and paint. There's something very Pride and Prejudice about it; I can almost see Mr Darcy riding in on a horse in the distance. Instead there was just an old guy fishing from the opposite bank.

The farmyard is also home to several goats which were sheltering from the sun, and some guinea pigs. All the animals look healthy, happy, and well cared for, although the guinea pigs always seen to be stuck in their hutches even though they're in the middle of a decent sized grassy pen. The poor things should be let out and given the room to run about and graze.

I've come to the conclusion that I would be quite content to have my own little farm like this; only for pets- I wouldn't have the heart to actually send anything off for slaughter, and I couldn't kill anything myself. It would probably end up turning in to a rescue centre for every wraith and stray, so it's probably best I don't go down that road! I'd be the crazy old lady with a thousand pets!

After that ten minute stroll, I had to rest in the car because I was so wobbly. The walk had taken a lot of effort and left me feeling like the little old lady from the Tweety Pie cartoons. Haha! I did manage a quick browse in the garden centre and farm shop, though, and came out with fresh bread, strawberry shortbread (yum!), Reece's Pieces, and a really handy measuring glass for baking, so I'd say it was a successful little outing with my Mum. It cured the cabin fever for a while, anyway!

That visit made me miss the days when I studied animal care at college. The campus was on a little farm  in the middle of nowhere, which was home to sheep and cattle, and the college's animal units housed all sorts of weird and wonderful critters from bunnies and budgies to snakes and axolotls. It involved a lot of hard work (biochemisty and mircrobiology- eurgh!) but I loved those two years. I still regret deciding not to go to uni at the last minute; I'd planned to study a foundation degree in Newquay in 2003 but got cold feet a few weeks before, and started working full time in the pet shop I had a weekend job with instead. I've regretted that decision ever since, although I enjoyed that job, but I couldn't see a way out of the rut I got myself in to.

If I ever recover from these pesky disc injuries, I want to get back in to animal care, even if it involves going back to college (or uni) in order to do so. Working with animals made me happy and content, and the eleven years of regret tells me all I need to know. I just wish it hadn't taken eight years and a back injury to wake me up. Although, I suspect, if I hadn't injured myself, I would probably still be stuck in that rut today, trapped there by fear of the unknown, and I'm thankful I got the wake up call I needed.

Do you regret any of the choices you made in life? Or the chances you didn't take?