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How to Survive while Self-Isolating or in Lockdown during Covoid 19

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Hilda
Sunday, 05 April 2020 / Published in Health & Wellbeing, Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News

How to Survive while Self-Isolating or in Lockdown during Covoid 19

When we look back on 2020 (the year of the coronavirus now known as Covoid 19), the words of the year will be self-isolating, physical distancing and lockdown. In Ireland, our Taoiseach (that’s Prime Minister for non-Irish readers!) Leo Varadkar refuses to call our restrictions ‘lockdown’.

Instead, he uses the softer, more caring term: COCOONING. By the way, I really am proud of our Government and think it is doing an incredible job under hugely difficult circumstances.

OUR LIVES PRE-COVID-19

Graham and I lead active social lives. Regular readers know that we play golf. Graham sails and plays tennis and I play bridge. We have a wide circle of friends and we regularly eat out in restaurants and in each other’s homes. My friends and I help to keep the coffee shops in Malahide in business. We go to the theatre and I love popping into Dublin to look around the shops.

We like taking short breaks in Ireland and were due to go to County Kerry in March for a few days. A trip to Spain with a group of friends at the beginning of May will also not now go ahead.

What I particularly miss of my pre-Covid life is spending time with my family and friends and particularly my two gorgeous grandsons. I walk by this playground near our house nearly every day and look at the empty swings and miss them so much.

empty playground

THE PRESENT SITUATION

We have been self-isolating from our families since early March. We had done drive-bys and talked from a distance, but no hugs.

Since Saturday 28th we have had even more restrictions. Now we can shop for food and medicine and only walk within a 2 km radius of our homes. All over 70s and those people with compromised immune systems are supposed to stay at home.

How are GG and I coping?

We obviously miss our friends and family, but we are among the lucky ones. We are both retired, so are not trying to work from home nor are we worried because we have lost our jobs. Others are not so lucky.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING?

1. EXERCISE

Exercise has always been important to us, so we walk every day. We are blessed because we have a park, a coastal walk and a beach within our 2 km radius. I have been living in leggings and my walking gear.

Walking gear.

I had been taking yoga and pilates classes for two months in Hot Yoga Dublin and Yoga Next Door. I was really loving it.  I found the right space, found I had the time, inclination and wonderful teachers.  Now that they have gone online with some of my favourite teachers, I can do it at home. If you fancy giving it a try, they have a free 7-day trial.

 

yoga at home

2.   DIGITAL MEDIA/CONNECTING ONLINE

  •  PHONECALLS

Of course, I call my family and friends, but I have also started reconnecting with old friends or friends I see less often and it has been a joy catching up.  I call two people a day on the free Whats App calls. We also use Whats App for group calls, instead of our weekly coffee and chat.

  • ZOOM

Zoom has become invaluable and gives us another avenue to connect with our loved ones and friends.  We have had pre-dinner drinks with groups of friends including my Supper Club. It really is a wonderful way of interacting and for a while suspending disbelief and pretending we are all in one room.

zoom

I tell Logan stories some evenings via Zoom also and little 7-month Cole looks on and smiles in the background. It is not the same, but it is a substitute.

  • ONLINE COURSES

Now is the time to try something new. There are plenty of free online courses at www.futurelearn.com

There’s a whole world of interesting content from world-class universities and institutions, including: learning new languages, courses on fashion, history and how to write a novel.

 

  • THEATRE

All theatres in Ireland have been closed for over three weeks. However, there are many artistes performing online and one which struck a chord with me was Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is streaming his musicals online for free.  More details can be found at ‘The Shows Must Go On’ You Tube Channel. While it is free, you are encouraged to make a donation to a variety of charities.

 

  • VIRTUAL TRAVELLING

Now we can virtually visit places all around the world.  We can plan trips for when this surreal nightmare is over.

Many art galleries and museums around the world are open to us for virtual tours.  I just visited the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.

 

3.   HOUSEHOLD CHORES

Graham has been busy doing maintenance, mostly painting around the house and garden, and I have been doing some spring cleaning. We still have to attack our attic, but our weather has been sunny and dry, so we will leave that for when the rain arrives. And this is Ireland, so yes it will rain.

We do intend to try some new recipes, but have not anything wonderful to report in that area yet. So send any tasty easy recipes my way, please.

 

4.   GAMES/NETFLIX/BOOKS

We like doing crosswords and sudoko and we have started playing Scrabble again. He beat me last night, which rarely happens.

scrabble

I have offered to teach Graham Bridge, but he stubbornly still refuses and claims to be a founder member of ABB…it stands for ‘Anything But Bridge’! I wish somebody would come up with a way to play Bridge at a distance. I might sign up to No Fear Bridge again. But it is so addictive..

Netflix has been even more important and we are currently watching ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ starring the wonderful Viola Davis.  I am making notes.

For a laugh, much needed at the moment, I recommend ‘The Windsors’, ‘Grace and Frankie’ and ‘The Kominsky Method’.

And we have been reading a lot. Project Gutenberg gives you free access to thousands of books to download on any device.

Top 100 EBooks last 7 days

  1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (15259)
  2. Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (12161)
  3. A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe (11814)
  4. The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People by Oscar Wilde (10478)
  5. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (9956)

 

5.   SELF CARE

Obviously looking after ourselves physically by eating well and exercising continues as per normal. Our mental health is likely to be more affected because of social isolation. So the phone calls and connecting I talked of earlier is important.

My hair deserves a post of its own. Luckily, I did manage to buy some root concealer a few weeks ago. And yes it works. But I cannot wait to get back to Darren at Crow Street Collective.

I tend to wear workout gear most days and only get dressed if I am going to the supermarket or Zooming with friends. The hair spends a lot of time tied up.

mustard top

Usually I get my eyebrows dyed and they have all but disappeared. Even Graham has asked where they have gone! So the first thing I do every morning is use my Charlotte Tilbury eyebrow pencil. I still wear my sunscreen and some lippy while I wear a hat and sunglasses out walking.

I am missing my usual facials and treatments and will be returning for pampering facials to Bespoke Beauty and to Jeanne Brophy for her expertise and dermalux asap.

I have treated myself to a home mask also and it has helped temporarily.

My (gelish) nail polish is beginning to look shabby, but I have started filing them and it seems to work.

FINALLY

Self-isolating has made some people really challenge themselves to learn and do new things. I won’t be learning a new language. Nor will I be writing a book.

On the plus side, I won’t kill Graham. Just as well we both have a sense of humour!

Stay safe, my friends. What are you doing to help you get through this crisis?

 

Love Hilda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tagged under: Bespoke Beauty, cocooning, Corona Virus, Covoid 19, Covoid 19 crisis, free online courses, free things to do at home, Jeanne Brophy, Keeping sane, Netflix, Scrabble, self-isolation, Staying safe, virus emergency, what to do during self isolation, what to do when stuck at home

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18 Comments to “ How to Survive while Self-Isolating or in Lockdown during Covoid 19”

  1. Julie Augustyn says :Reply
    April 5, 2020 at 5:47 pm

    Hi Hilda,

    Lots of great suggestions while we shelter at home or as your Prime Minister calls it “cocooning”! I think we’re all doing the best we can given the circumstances! I do believe there will be many good things that will come from this challenging time. I do look forward o resuming my “regular” life! Stay safe and healthy friend!

    1. Hilda says :Reply
      April 5, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      Thanks Julie. Looking forward to better times ahead. You stay safe too. xx

  2. Jackie Greene says :Reply
    April 5, 2020 at 6:58 pm

    The new vanity will be how we feel, not what we look like! There will be many shaggy heads, male and female. Inches of grey roots, tubby middles from too much comfort food and not enough exercise. But so what, who cares ………we will be alive and everything can be resurrected! Our houses will be sparkling, our gardens or window boxes will be tidy and ready to receive the plants that we cannot buy now. Those that have not been working can have spent time looking after themselves. The rest will need a serious holiday, something that is unfortunately beyond our reach until at least the Autumn/Winter. Life will return to some, not too others, the damaged, the unemployed etc. That is the time to pitch in and help get the country running again. Keep well….well away from everyone!!

    1. Hilda says :Reply
      April 6, 2020 at 8:35 am

      Thanks Jackie. I imagine that you are still busy. And glad of your open space and fields to get out and about. I hoe the family are all well. We will get through it, but tough times for many. XXXX

  3. Loretta Sayers says :Reply
    April 6, 2020 at 5:40 pm

    Great post, Hilda! I have a good tip for you…I use “Just For Men” beard and facial hair dye on my eyebrows! It takes 5 minutes!!

    Glad you are keeping a sense of humor, and that you get to get outside for walks – both so important! I am struggling with not seeing my granddaughters, but as you said, at least we have some virtual time together.

    Take care, stay safe cocooning!

    1. Hilda says :Reply
      April 7, 2020 at 4:39 pm

      Wow thanks for that tip Loretta, going to see if I can track it down. We are having lovely weather at the moment , so that helps. Love to you and John. I need to head over and catch up on your posts xx

  4. ROBIN LAMONTE says :Reply
    April 6, 2020 at 9:32 pm

    Hilda,

    Wonderful tips you have shared on your post!
    I haven’t seen our granddaughter in person in over 3 weeks but we have daily FaceTime with her.
    I think that’s the hardest part of all of this social distancing is not being with our children and grandchildren when they live so close to us.
    Now more than ever virtual conversations are so important for us.
    I am glad I can see you every week to know how you and GG are coping.

    Stay well, my friend.
    Robin

    1. Hilda says :Reply
      April 7, 2020 at 4:36 pm

      I know Robin, we are all in the same boat, but we need to stay well and stay home. Thanks for commenting x

  5. Laurie says :Reply
    April 7, 2020 at 10:29 pm

    Sounds like you have it all sussed Hilda. My nearest beach that I can get to for a sea view walk has even been closed off! I’ve been in isolation just over a month now and I’m surprised at how quick it’s gone. Keep safe and well xx

    1. Hilda says :Reply
      April 9, 2020 at 9:46 am

      Laurie, I know. I just miss the grandchildren. If I could see them, I could cope.. xxxx

  6. Angie Weihs says :Reply
    April 8, 2020 at 8:10 am

    Love the tip of virtual traveling to museums, I’m inspired to checking out and also see how artists and art galleries deal with the new reality. Thanks.

    1. Hilda says :Reply
      April 9, 2020 at 9:45 am

      Something for us to do to keep us inspired xxx Thanks Angie

  7. marijke says :Reply
    April 8, 2020 at 1:00 pm

    Some great tips! I love the virtual travelling and visiting museums. I might plan a visit to the Tate Modern. Haven’t been there for a while.
    Eyebrows. I don’t have any worth talking about and went through life blond and bare. Then I discovered eyebrow tattoos over ten years ago. I will never look back. Now they do it even better and it looks likes you see the hairs. Maybe something for you.

    1. Hilda says :Reply
      April 9, 2020 at 9:43 am

      I have plenty of eyebrow hairs, just blonde and grey….We are enjoying the virtual visits to places. Thanks Marijke xx

  8. Nina Bandoni says :Reply
    April 8, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    Wonderful tips, Hilda! These are difficult times for sure, and figuring out how to stay in touch with friends and family is so important. Its good that we have the internet! It has made things so much better including meeting friends from around the world. it is certainly comforting to know how others are doing and how they see the world. All the best to you and GG

    1. Hilda says :Reply
      April 9, 2020 at 9:41 am

      Thanks Nina. Such surreal times; but we will get through it. It will be a changed world, though.

  9. Julia Rees says :Reply
    April 11, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    These are great tips, Hilda! I love the term ‘cocooning” – it sounds much nicer than confinement and implies we will emerge ‘transformed’.
    I’ve just done a similar post, and it really helped me to get into a routine as I was on an emotional rollercoaster for the first couple of weeks. We are about to enter our 5th week, here in France!
    Stay safe
    Julia x
    https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/

    1. Hilda says :Reply
      April 13, 2020 at 11:00 am

      Yes Julia, the use of the word cocooning does have more positive connotations. I read yours too. It is overwhelming at times isn’t it? Take care xxx

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