3 tips to help with self-isolation & stress 

I’m sorry but what the damn hell has 2020 been about? I have had SO many big life changes – all on top of a global pandemic. I can’t help but feel like this is a period of transformation, whether it’s personal, for the planet or, for travel. Being self-isolated by myself has been HARD; I used to hate being by myself and stuck inside. This year I was forced into a situation where it was just me and my thoughts (eep). So, here we are, I have been furloughed for about six months, spent two months completely alone, one month getting over a breakup (joyful) and the rest of the time going through some really major life changes – as well as a global pandemic – (so not much then…) However, this has taught me some REALLY good techniques for dealing with stressful situations, not being able to travel and some big changes, as well as self-isolation (useful if we have a second lockdown – fingers crossed we don’t or i’m hibernating until 2021).

Ok so trust me when I say that, back in January 2020, I could not run for thirty seconds. I’d take a few steps and boom, it was like someone had come along and knocked the air right out of me. My fitness levels were bleak and as much as I tried to follow all the super-fit-influencers work-out videos, I just ended up trying to do a move, kicking myself, and bleeding all over the carpet. So I tried the Couch to 5K app. I cannot recommend it enough. For those of you like me – who find the distance between the sofa and the fridge the equivalent of an iron man challenge – then it is the BEST. It takes you gradually through a process to build up your fitness levels. Plus, you can do it wherever you like; I preferred running through the woods (thank you once daily exercise) because it made me feel away from everything and cleared my head. Especially when going through a break up this was the best thing for me; it made me feel strong and like I was achieving something every time I moved up a few more minutes of continuous running. After nine weeks, I managed to run for a solid 30 minutes. Not only did this feel like a huge achievement but it had given me the space in my head to mentally move on from my stresses and allowed me to step back and reevaluate. Being outside and exercising is SO good for your mental health and I honestly can’t tell you how much it helped me.
Do let me know if you have any questions… I’m happy to help!

There is a lot of pressure to be productive during this time, but cast that aside and just take it easy. Is there anything you have always wanted to learn or do? Or something you have been intending to finish? During lockdown, I wanted to utilize this rare period of time to achieve something (although trust me, there was stuff on my list that I also didn’t do, because we should also allow ourselves time to rest in this crazy time – sorry spanish lessons). I finished my Superstar Blogging Course by Nomadic Matt (it’s only taken me like 8 years). I really wanted to get this going and so I set my sites on it and broke it down into chunks, this made it much more manageable. The whole pandemic situation has been CRAZY, so it is good to try and use the time for something positive, something to benefit yourself. Check out Skillshare too as they have some really great courses to try your hand at.

On the flipside of learning something new, it has also helped to take some time out. With lockdown (or any stressful situation) it can become all consuming. It’s a good idea to give yourself a break. I am always putting pressure on myself to be productive (so much so that I then go the opposite way as some form of rebellion, and sit on the sofa in defiance). Taking time out to chill, work on yourself or just get to know yourself better is such a blessing. It helps to realign your focus, direction and goals. Most importantly though, you start to get to know yourself and what makes you happiest, and if that is spending that day in your stretchy trousers with a magazine and the sun on your face then I am alllllll here for it.