Tips for staying sane during the coronavirus outbreak

Okay so my last blog post may have been mostly doom and gloom, but I've had my moment and now I'm back to being the ray of fucking sunshine that you're used to. I'm done wallowing and self pitying - I just needed to feel sorry for myself for a bit but I've done a 180 and I'm feeling happy again. Which is interesting, since the situation has got worse if anything, so maybe it's as much about choice and time as it is about environment. Either way, I thought I'd share a few tips on how I'm staying sane during lockdown.

Limit the amount of news you consume

It's important to stay up-to-date with coronavirus so you're aware of all the latest guidelines and any new symptoms or anything. But it's very easy to overload yourself with it all and it can make you feel more hopeless about the situation.

Maybe watch a bit of the news once a day but don't let it be all that you're reading or hearing about. Vary the content you're consuming; read magazines, find good news stories or look for a new blog to enjoy (oh like perhaps this amazing one right here). And for goodness sake take any tweet, text or whatsapp you read about coronavirus with a pinch of salt because jesus christ have I seen some bullshit.

Stay connected

Social distancing is something that we should definitely all be doing, period. But social distancing and self isolation shouldn't be mistaken for social isolation. Now more than ever, we should be checking in on our friends, chatting to those we can't go and see and doing what we can to pick each other up. It never fails to amaze me how a group of people who are all low can somehow lift each other up.

I had a video chat games night with my family last night and I'm doing a house party group facetime with my friends tonight - it may be different for right now but it doesn't have to be terrible. Plus, not going out has it's perks. For example, the bar at my house never calls last orders.

Be sensible

I understand that it's human nature to rebel; every time I've been ill and in hospital, I've always fought to be discharged (either to go home or to go on holiday), left and then realised hospital is where I needed to be. Hopefully those of you who keep trying to find new ways to go out (despite being told that is definitely not what you should be doing), will soon realise that home is where you need to be.

I think it's all about being sensible; take government advice at face value, only buy what you need at the supermarket and don't go out unless you have to. Better to be safe than sorry.

Find a comfortable place to work

I work at an online pharmacy so up until last weekend, I was going into work as normal before my boss announced that anyone who was able to work from home should. As the content marketing manager, that obviously meant me and luckily, I've had a trial run at working from home already, when me and Ollie did 14 days quarantine after we got back from Venice.

I've seen a lot of people saying how hard they're finding it to work productively from home but so far I'm having a majorly productive week. My first tip would be to find a reasonably comfortable place to work from. Too comfortable (bed) and you'll feel sluggish but not comfortable enough (kitchen table) and you'll end up with aches and pains and neck strain. My happy medium has turned out to be the sofa but find what works for you.

Get up and dressed for work

Another little WFH tip - treat it the same as if you're going to the office. Get up on time, get ready and put on clothes that you'd normally wear for work. Despite a lot of marketing emails from my favourite fashion brands, I fail to see how anyone gets anything done while wearing pyjamas.

Start a new series

We all love a lazy sunday binge-watching Netflix and yet somehow when you're ordered by the government to do nothing but, no one wants to? I feel like starting a new series (preferably one with lots of episodes) will help you to want to stay indoors; How to get away with murder would be my current recommendation.

It also doesn't have to be a series. Start a new book or learn a new skill or work your way through all the classic movies. Anything that makes staying home feel like something you want to do, rather than have to do, is a good shout.

Go outdoors

Right let's all get this straight for the record; self isolation does not mean you can't go outside. It means you can't go for a BBQ in the park with 6 of your closest friends and family. I really don't think it's hard to grasp. But this time of year is beautiful and there's no reason that you can't enjoy the sunshine and cherry blossom safely! Get yourself outside, get your daily dose of vitamin D and get those steps in (without coming within 2m of anyone else).

In fact, now that everyone is desperate to go walking and jogging, I'm convinced we'll all come out of lockdown looking mega fit. Although actually, I'm seeing plenty of people baking 3 times a day too so maybe not.

Change your mindset

Although my mental health has taken a whack due to this whole coronavirus, I am feeling much happier this week and I think it's because the disappointment at my plans being cancelled has passed, I've had time to accept the new (temporary) normal and I'm choosing happiness. I do believe you have a say in how you feel; life doesn't just happen to us.

Yes, things are shitty and difficult right now. Plenty of people I care about are at risk. I can't do any of the things that I normally enjoy. BUT. I have the most amazing friends and family. I can make fresh lunches every day instead of microwaved leftovers. The weather is gorgeous. I'll save money by not going out or booking holidays for a while. There'll be plenty to look forward to when all this is over. And I'm pretty sure there are worse things than being on lockdown with the love of my life for a few weeks.