Best of: Self-isolating

This post was written during the pandemic and contains information specific to it.

If you and your flat have been told to self isolate, it is vital that you do so for as long as instructed. We know this may be a difficult time to deal with, so here’s some advice you may find helpful if you are self isolating:

Stay in touch with loved ones – Rachel Hopley

During these times when there’s so much uncertainty and anxiety, staying close and keeping in touch with loved ones can be one of the best things to do. Surrounding yourself with love and companionship can help anyone through the hardest of times, and it’s also a great distraction! Whilst you can’t do this in person, there’s still a number of ways you can do this online.

If you need some ideas on how you can stay in touch with loved ones during this time, check out Rachel’s article, or if you struggle to keep in contact with friends from home, Lan shares her advice on how to keep up with it all.

Keep yourself busy – Lucy

Just because you’re isolating that doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun! There’s a number of activities you can do from the comfort of your home, such as redecorating your room or having a movie night with your flat. Who knew staying in could be so fun?

Have a games night – Owen

Whether it’s classic board games such as Monopoly and Cluedo, or card games like Uno and Cards Against Humanity, games are a good way of getting everyone in one room doing something fun. Studies have shown that board games can reduce stress and improve mental health, so a games night is a perfect way of recovering after a day of hard work and study.

As now is the perfect time to get to know your flatmates better, why not try out some of Owen’s other ideas on how to bond with your flatmates?

Appreciate positivity – Kathryn

At the end of each day, reflect on what you did and write down five things that you enjoyed or that cheered you up. Whenever you feel down, read that list/notebook and repeat the activities, or just re-live the happy memories. This will keep you thinking positively, and reflect that feeling on everything you do. For more self care ideas, you can read Kathryn’s full article here.

Whilst being in self isolation isn’t the most exciting prospect on the planet, it might have to be incorporated into the ‘new normal’, so make sure you’re taking the time to look after yourself.

If you have any questions or concerns about self-isolation please visit the COVID19 support page.