How to stay CONNECTED during self-isolation

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How to stay CONNECTED during self-isolation

Staying connected is more important than ever!

Being connected is a primary driver of human behaviour. That’s why it can be so hard to be stuck at home, whether you're working or not, and not become isolated. You must be proactive if you’re going to stay connected and on top of your well-being.

Here are six things it's important to STAY CONNECTED with during these unprecedented times:

  • Your WHY
  • OTHERS
  • SELF
  • ROUTINE
  • NATURE
  • HOBBIES

 

Healthy habits in these 6 areas can help you make the most of your time at home by remaining healthy, happy, productive and most importantly CONNECTED.

 

Stay CONNECTED to your WHY

Your work, personal life, family, friend and home boundaries can become blurred when we're stuck at home, resulting in a loss of purpose and motivation. It can be easy to forget WHY you’re doing what you’re doing.

Rekindle your connection to your WHY by exploring these questions to tap into your inner superhero:

  • Have you got a clear sense of purpose?
  • Do you know what intrinsically motivates you?
  • Have you got a clear sense of direction?

 

If you can’t answer those questions you may need some trusted advice and support to help you connect with your WHY. Turn to someone you trust or take some introspective time to explore your purpose and try to reconnect to your WHY.

 

Stay CONNECTED with OTHERS

People are social creatures. True, some more than others but we all have an innate need to be with and connect with people. Make sure you fill your social quota to stop feelings of loneliness and isolation creeping in, but also to support others and share ideas.

Each day ask yourself these questions:

  • Who could I speak with to help me work through a problem or brainstorm some ideas?
  • Is there a friend, family member or colleague I could connect with who may be feeling lonely?
  • Is there some way I could make someone happy through a small act of kindness?

 

You can connect with others in many ways – a video call, an act of kindness, a card or a letter. Social media is OK but the more personal the connection the better. What’s the most interesting, creative and crazy thing you’ve used a video call for to keep connected with the people in your support network? We've used it for virtual meals, board game nights, quizzes and have even heard of virtual pub nights! 

 

Staying CONNECTED with SELF

It can be easy to become over-whelmed and lose yourself in all the uncertainty, anxiety and panic going around at the moment. The answer is not about being mentally tough, it’s about being emotionally agile!

Take time to reconnect with yourself by thinking about:

  • Are you practising healthy habits?
  • Are you taking time for yourself?
  • Are you listening to and responding appropriately to your feelings?

 

In order to remain connected with yourself and look after your wellbeing you must take the time to understand and work with your feelings. Don’t try to suppress or ignore them, acknowledge them and take the time to alleviate them. Journaling is a proven way to manage this.

 

Staying CONNECTED with your ROUTINE

When you're at home whether you're working, caring for family, volunteering, furloughed studying or job hunting it’s a big challenge to maintain a sense of normal routine and life balance. As the boundaries between many aspects of your life become blurred and physically closer, it’s important to ensure you maintain a structure and routine that works for you and creates a healthy environment for your family.

Play around with your day and experiment to find a balance and flow that feels right. Ask yourself:

  • What do I crave?
  • Am I creating “boxes of time” for the things that I need and want to do?
  • Am I working in the right environment?

 

Maintain a healthy balance between the various areas of your life that feels good for you (i.e. work, study, family). Sticking to a daily routine is the best way to maintain a healthy balance.

 

Staying CONNECTED with NATURE

Nature is a fantastic natural remedy to stress, loneliness and feeling overwhelmed. Natural sunlight is so important for our physical and mental well-being so ensure you seek it out as often as you can to reset and refresh your brain.

Listen to your feelings and ask yourself:

  • Am I feeling the weight of responsibility?
  • Do I need to clear my head?
  • Do I need a change of scenery?

 

If the answer is yes, taking the time to connect with nature could be just what you need. Go for a walk, a run, a bike ride, open the windows, sit in the garden with a cuppa or plant some flowers. 

 

Staying CONNECTED with HOBBIES

Hobbies and pastimes are great ways to escape from the everyday things that can lead to feelings of being trapped or weighed down. They offer us the chance to do something fun and enjoyable.

Listen to your feelings and ask yourself:

  • Am I feeling trapped?
  • Do I need to feel “free” and have some fun?
  • Do I need a re-charge my motivation?

 

If the answer is yes what can you do just for the pure enjoyment factor? Playing tennis against the wall may not be as good as being on court, but it still keeps you moving, using your skills. Indoor hobbies are great when the weather isn’t so welcoming. Dance, sing, read, draw, sew, play a video game – find what puts that smile on your face and clears your head.

Stay safe, stay home, stay CONNECTED.