8 Things to Do in Isolation During COVID-19 [Infographic]
There’s only so much TV you can watch.
And with the news being saturated with COVID-19, cable television isn’t always a great choice either.
So what do you do when you’re stuck in your house with no visitors allowed? What can you do to protect your mental health and thrive in isolation, especially if you are in hospice care?
There are quite a few things you can do. We’ll outline some activities that will keep you occupied.
Things to Do in Isolation During COVID-19
1. Get Caught Up on Reading
Have you meant to enjoy that novel from Oprah’s book club but just never got around to it? Now’s the perfect time. If don’t have the book—or can’t have it delivered—you can easily download the digital edition onto your tablet, iPad or even your phone.
Can’t Get to the Library? No Problem
Your local library can be a wonderful resource. You can take advantage of its many online resources. Some libraries offer special educational opportunities for those with a library card. These include:
- Chances to learn a foreign language
- Free online courses
- Online videos
- Ebook downloads
Even though your library is closed, it’s always open on the internet.
2. Enjoy Social Media—But Not Too Much
Social media is a great way to stay in touch, but sometimes, it can make matters worse.
How?
There are a lot of things about COVID-19 that are being spread through social media. Some of this information is accurate—but a lot of it is not. Even well-meaning friends may inadvertently forward something to you that is not true.
When COVID-19 has been in the news constantly, do you really want to see more information on it when you’re trying to stay in contact with friends? Especially if this news is possibly inaccurate?
3. Get in Touch with Family and Friends
Even if you’re in an area where shelter-in-place is in effect, you can still stay in touch with friends and family through email or video chat.
4. Do Something Creative
Creativity often soothes the mind. If you have a hobby that you’ve put on hold, such as scrapbooking or painting, now is the time to start again. Another plus? When stay-in-place is over, you’ll have a completed project to share with family and friends.
5. Start A New Hobby
Let’s suppose you bought a guitar 6 years ago and never got around to learning how to play it. Now’s the time.
You can find great online lessons for free on YouTube and other places around the internet. Exercising your mind in this manner can be a great stress release.
6. Start a Journal
Writing can be very therapeutic, and often, just jotting down your feelings helps you process them. Not sure what to write about? Here are a few suggestions:
- Describe the home where you grew up
- Write about your activities today
- Express what you’re feeling
- If you are religious, write down your prayer requests
- Collect inspirational quotes
You may even want to create a special journal about your life to share with your children and grandchildren. They’ll appreciate having these wonderful keepsake memories. This will be appreciated for generations to come.
If you’d like to try your hand at creative writing and craft a story, you can get some great writing prompts online.
7. Create a Family Tree
This doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. It could be as simple as writing down some names in a journal. It is a wonderful legacy to give to your children, grandchildren or other relatives.
Sites like Ancestry.com generally offer a free trial period. This way you can try some of the tools before deciding if this is something you’d like to pay for.
8. Complete a Puzzle or Play Word Games
While it’s certainly not a long-term solution, Sudoku or the latest crossword puzzle can bring happy relief from boredom.
Remember That Your Hospice Team is Always There for You
Are you concerned that you’ll get the care you need during this crisis?
Don’t be.
Hospice teams across the country are continuing their stellar care and dedication to those with terminal illnesses and their families.
This is one reason why we believe it’s so important to fully understand what hospice is. Do you ever wonder who qualifies for hospice? Do you know how to get hospice care for yourself or for those who matter most to you? Take a few minutes to learn more about hospice.
Questions? Contact a hospice near you.
