Self-preservation During Self-isolation

Pandemic = a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world.

We are living amidst a pandemic, the situation at hand seems surreal to most and scary to the majority. Every day we are surrounded by what can feel like a crisis. Dominating the media, imposing upon our everyday lives and infiltrating what feels like every conversation we engage in. Rightly so, the Covid-19 virus is not a matter to be shrugged off and is something we are going to have to live through for time to come. Together we will do this.

Our fears and anxieties are likely beginning to flare, there is a permanent mist of the unknown and we are suspended in this ominous uncertainty. Fear, paranoia and puzzling the unknown are all symptoms and powerful foundations of anxiety. Likewise, isolation, loneliness and lack of routine are precursors and symptoms of depression. These are but two of the terms labelling the strain this situation can have upon our mental states by applying immense pressure on existing conditions, facilitating the development of new struggles and simply exhausting our positive mental selves.

It is okay to be scared, it is okay to feel lost and uncertain – it is normal to feel it all.

But there are some small steps we can take to regain positive power.

Structure your new lives but do not regiment them, make room for every part of you.
We are physically apart for now but emotionally together always.
Protect and nurture your whole self: physically and psychologically.

Making the most of your days:

Under the current climate our usual daily opportunities to engage with meaningful and productive tasks may have been taken from us or at the very least limited. For example, many of us are unable to work and numerous of those able to can only perform their roles within limited parameters. This has far reaching implications economically, politically, and socially – however, mentally it can distort the very way we see ourselves.

Often we are our own harshest critic, and thus many of our actions have an underlying motive of self-gratification and satisfaction to address this. We wish to appease our inner cynic and challenge the negative perceptions of self. However, in the restricted climate we now find ourselves in opportunities to do so have been restricted. Limits upon our engagement with tasks such as excelling at work or academically, can therefore limit our chances to give further meaning to ourselves and uphold positive self-affirmations. This can open the door to low self-esteem, lack of motivation and a negative gloom.

So, let us find reward in even the mundane chores of the household. Start by making a list of niggles and to-dos. Write them down - pen to paper. They can be tasks of any size or effort, or some that perhaps have been lingering in the shadows for a while? Be fair and kind to yourself when creating these lists, do not set hurdles bigger than you can jump, as you will trip.

This small and what may have seemed insignificant task means we get to tick an item off our list, gradually the list becomes smaller whilst the meaningfulness of each day grows stronger. We begin to trust ourselves to engage productively with each day, knowing we will reward ourselves at the end of it (be an appreciative leader, not an ungrateful tyrant).

Isolating multiple selves under one roof:

We go to work and evolve into the employee or perhaps the boss, we go to school and transform into the student or the teacher - but - at the end of each day, we journey home to shed our skins. To an extent, we leave the world’s perceptions and expectations as we engage with our families and we fulfil our homely duties.

Physical isolation requires us to bring our outside worlds into our very own homes; working from home, maintaining social contact (video calls, phone calls, continuous messaging), and studying from home etc. Environment and setting contribute to the persona we adopt as we perform to suit the stage on which we find ourselves. So, we now have multiple roles demanded from ourselves but from one crowded stage.

Humans are experienced social beings, we express variations of self through the ways we behave, relate, socialise, communicate, present ourselves and so on. We are usually adaptable if not flexible at the very least, but we do this out in the big wide world and not often from the same four walls of our own homes.

It is important during these times that we are still able to be attentive and fulfilled in each of our roles. The key to this is structure and planning. Clearly, times have changed for the present and this should be reflected in our newly developed lives. Take each day as it comes but set it within the context of the week ahead.

Environment and space are key. Keep your physical areas ordered and purposeful. An ordered desk makes for an ordered mind. Get up, get ready and show up. Make your coffee, organise your resources, file your papers, section your workspace. Make sure you cultivate an environment in which you may grow and bloom.

The situation we are currently in is challenging, but it is not permanent. Try not to fall out of kilter with the routine the outside world elicits from us, we will be returning to it one day.

Distance now, together later.

All challenging situations are temporary, think about everything you have overcome in your lifetime. One day this will pass us by and we shall remember this for time to come, we were there, and we fought through this together. The ominous uncertainty surrounding the duration of a pandemic can be daunting, BUT IT WILL END. Do not lose sight of that!

Nevertheless, it is crucial that we continue to focus on the present and not just the light at the end of the tunnel as they say. Every one of us has a crucial role to play, apart from one another. At least two-meters to be precise. We must sacrifice in the short-term so that we can regain and enjoy our freedom in the long-term. It is about contextualising everything - do not get lost in the depths of despair. Sacrifice is something we should be familiar with as humans, it is a principle we have built much of society upon. Each day that we go to work we sacrifice some of our precious time and energy, there are things we may rather be doing (e.g. spending time with loved ones, holidays, adventures), but we sacrifice now to be rewarded later: monetary gain, experience, socialisation – these are meaningful rewards obtained through sacrifice.

You will see your loved ones again. You will hug them. You will smile and take pictures with them. You will make new memories. One day this will be a distant dot in our rear-view mirrors. Put it in perspective.

Two-meters apart but never alone.

It is not in our nature to be apart, to stay away, to step aside, and actively avoid proximity to one another. Never in my lifetime have I crossed to the other side of the road in anticipation of a human approaching me. Physically we may be distanced, isolated and even alone but, together we can rejoice.

We live in an age where technology dominates our daily lives and there has been much speculation as to the healthy parameters surrounding this. Nonetheless, the ones you love and the people you share connections with may be physically absent in your lives right now, but you are never truly alone. Pick up the phone, text your friends and family, call your loved one, reach out and engage with new communities, make a difference and support those that are in-need. Feeling lonely? There are billions of people going through the exact same experience - so let us regain our sense of community.

Many of us have succumb to the consumerist, individualistic culture that surrounds us. We belong to “the buy it, break it, chuck it era”: things just aren’t worth fixing anymore. It takes times like these to stop us in our tracks and look around us to count the blessings of the people in our lives.

Choose an evening and dedicate it to connecting with the outside world. Facetime wine nights with the girls. Phone calls to check in with elderly family members. Virtual quiz nights (it’s not a pub, but it’s close enough!). Reach out to people you haven’t spoken with in a while, you finally have time to reconnect!

At the centre of all the surrounding chaos is you. You can structure your life to boost productivity and satisfaction, you can reach out to your loved ones to combat isolation. BUT you must remember to look after yourself. We are talking about your whole self, as a physiological and psychological being. In times like this we can get lost in trying to regain some order and purpose. Though, it is essential that above all else, you care for yourself as you would your loved ones.

As but one example of how you can take care of yourself through this challenge, exercise is underpinned by a wealth of research indicating the positive impact it can have upon our physiological and mental health.

In a time of isolation and much stress, belonging to an empowered and supportive community, focused not only on becoming our strongest physical selves but also most positive mental selves, is something to cherish.

Put the hashtag #WeWillOvercome in your bio on your social media page and tweet/post it to show others that your inbox is open to those who may be struggling during the COVID-19 Crisis; that you can provide sources for support; and that you can/want to help where possible and is safe.

If you would like to find out how you can get involved with helping others during this distressing time, please check out our call-out letter here and keep an eye out for our new COVID-19 support section coming soon.