Bans on crossing national borders, leaving cities and staying at home – such measures had to be introduced by all the governments of the world to stop the coronavirus epidemic. Prolonged stay in a confined space can lead to psychological discomfort. How to live in isolation caused by coronavirus?
Coronavirus epidemic is isolation time
The constant increase in coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infections worldwide has led many countries to take unusual steps. Closing borders, restrictions on free movement of citizens and quarantine are designed to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Isolation in the age of the Internet may not seem like a particular problem, but not everyone can endure a prolonged forced stay at home. Especially when restrictions on freedom of movement can be extended for a long period of time, and it is impossible to predict how long the coronavirus epidemic will last. Methods that can help you for several days may not work in the long run.
When you ask yourself how to live in this difficult time, you should listen to the advice of astronauts. Some of them decided to share their isolation experience, which lasts for months.
Astronauts advise how to live in isolation
In recent days, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly told The New York Times about his one-year stay on the International Space Station. It was not an easy time for him. As Kelly notes, his 12 months of work experience can be translated into the current situation, when a pandemic forces us to isolate ourselves from other people.
Staying at home, you can work until late or forget about meal. Therefore, Kelly recommends adhering to the usual work schedule or a little shortened to avoid overwork and find more time to have fun after the work done.
It is important to keep to the daily schedule, but it is equally important to have enough time for sleep. Adequate sleep will help you survive not only the space mission, but also quarantine.
Activities recommended by Kelly for spending free time include reading, watching TV shows, keeping a diary, or learning a new skill. It is also important to keep in touch with family and friends through video calls.
Psychologists advise how to live in isolation
- First of all, you need to calm down and not panic. Panicking person cannot hear the arguments of the mind and does a lot of stupid things. Also, against the background of panic, fears, some diseases may appear, the cause of which is your psychosomatics.
- Set daily goals for yourself. If you only do household chores, then this will negatively affect your mood and health condition. Therefore, be sure to write lists of what you will do today, tomorrow, this week.
- Isolation is a great time to do something that has been put off for a long time and for which there was not enough time. Go in for sports, learning a foreign language, get rid of unnecessary things.
- Devote time to family. We always do not have enough time to talk with a partner, play board games with children, and settle conflicts and disagreements in the family. For many people, quarantine is almost a punishment, but try to look at it differently, as an opportunity to give your loved ones the most valuable thing – your time, attention and care.