Just as I’ve bought a few extras for my pantry, I’m also considering what’s going to support me as I square up to a few months of solitude. I’m not tripping on too many thoughts of the future but I am looking ahead at what I’ll need to stay in a good place internally. Some days I will do all of this and some days I won’t, and that’s okay, but my goal is to do as much as I can Every. Only check Guardian website once per day, no moreĪ lot of this I already do but never has it been more important for me to look after my body and my mind. Daily calls/messages with family and friendsħ. This is especially important for those of you who are at home alone like me.Ħ. Last night I compiled a list of my absolute must-dos while this is going on and I’m sharing it here in case you need some inspiration or a gentle nudge to consider what YOUR absolute must-dos will be. So, knowing that life is gonna be upside for a while, I’ve instigated Operation Mental Health Self-Care.
I live alone and I enjoy it very much, but right now I’d be happier if I had someone here to give me a bloody hug! So the prospect of several months without that is daunting, I’m not going to lie. I can easily do five days straight on my own at home, but by day six I need to go out and be in the world. Which you’d think would be easy when you’re an introvert but I’m realising that what keeps me sane - and I mean that quite literally as someone who has a history of depression - are the times I spend with friends and the time I spend OUTSIDE of the house. For me I’m having to trust that my family is safe - which is hard when your first urge is to go be with them and help - and I’m focussing on keeping myself well and avoiding contact with others. We’re still believing there are borders that separate us, but here we are, a planet filled with humans, all affected by something we can’t even see.Įach of us is dealing with this in our own way and we all have different concerns. It’s surreal that this is happening but also extraordinary that something is going down that unites the entire planet.
When I write to you about personal insights I’ve usually let some time pass before I share my thoughts, so it’s very odd to be writing to you right in the centre of the storm, but here we are - all of us! As I swirl up and down through frustration and anxiety, I also feel tiny hits of wonderment.