11 Tips for Surviving (and Thriving) in Isolation

As the pandemic marches into its sixth month, with no end in sight, the forced isolation it brings has started to take its toll. While shelter-in-place orders result in some of us sheltering with family or roommates, others of us end up sheltering alone. 

The psychological difficulty posed by isolation and loneliness is well-documented. Thus, while safeguarding our physical health and fighting the spread of COVID-19 in our community is critical, it is equally important to take active steps to safeguard our psychological health while isolating.

Here are a few ideas for behaviors that can help you thrive during this time:

1. Learn (or share) a skill.
   Learn a new language (try the free Duolingo app). Educate yourself about the world on Wikipedia. Check out courses on Skillshare, Masterclass, or Udemy. Follow tutorials on YouTube. This is a great time to learn something new! Or do you have expertise in an area? Maybe it’s time to share it!
   
2. Listen to podcasts.
   Podcasts often involve groups of people having long-form conversations, and listening can feel like being part of the conversation. Choose several podcasts about topics that interest you, and listen routinely. Make sure you choose positive, uplifting podcasts to incorporate into your day. Download Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or the Podbean app on your Android phone, and start searching for topics that interest you. Here are a few fun options:
   • Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me – NPR humor podcast about the week’s news.
   • Short Wave – A daily science podcast.
   • Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend – Conan interviewing celebrities.
   • The Story Geeks – Discussions of science fiction, fantasy and comic book movies.
   • Hidden Brain – Audio essays on why we do the things we do.
     
3. Pick up the phone.
   Our culture has gotten out of the habit of talking on the phone, often favoring text messages, emails, and social media interaction. However, none of these options offer the same level of social connection as hearing another person’s voice. Until this pandemic is under control, it’s time to dust off the old-fashioned social phone call! 
   • Don’t have anything new to talk to your friends and family about? Check out the game “Vertellis”, which offers “conversation cards designed to get you past small talk and have genuine conversations.”
   • Make a list of the people you care about. Call and verbally connect with one person per day.

4. Video messaging.
   WhatsApp, Zoom, Facetime, and Google Hangouts all offer video chatting options. Also check out Marco Polo, a messaging app that allows you to record and send video messages to your loved ones that they can respond to at their leisure. It’s great for connecting with friends or family in different time zones and keeping connected with others in a way that fits into their schedule, without the time pressure of coordinating a phone call.

5. Use this time to recover.
   Do you have hurts, hangups, or habits that get between you and God, or between you and other people? Are you struggling with anger, codependency, anxiety, or past abuse? This is a great time to work on yourself.
   • Consider Celebrate Recovery: Many branches of Celebrate Recovery are open and helping people over Zoom. Here in Reedley, Celebrate Recovery meets on Monday nights at https://redeemerscr.online.church/ at 6:30 p.m.
   • Connect with a Counselor: Connect with a counselor for online therapy sessions. https://www.betterhelp.com/
   • If you need someone to talk to 24/7, there are resources here: https://idontmind.com/findhelp
     – NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE – 1-800-273-TALK
     – CRISIS TEXT LINE – Text IDM to 741741

6. Record your life experiences.
   This is a time to take a break from busyness and reflect. You have hard-won wisdom and memories. Use this time to record them!
   • Consider a journal like this one, “My Life Story – So Far” https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/my-life-story-so-far
   • Or simply open up a Word document or a notebook, look up “journal prompts” on Google, and answer one question each day.
   • If you don’t want to write, try recording videos on your phone instead.
     
7. Adopt a pet.
   This might be a great time to adopt a dog or cat from a local shelter! The benefits of pet ownership for happiness levels are well-documented.
   
8. Limit social media and news.
   Increased time on social media and partisan news consumption are positively correlated to unhappiness. Replace the illusion of connection over social media with actual phone calls. Choose news sources that provide balanced media coverage, and limit your time on them.
   • Consider setting yourself a timer.
   • Consider The Flip Side newsletter. https://www.theflipside.io/

9. Write letters and cards.
   Letter-writing is another long-dormant habit that it’s time to dust off. If you take the time to write letters of appreciation to the people in your life, they could become treasured keepsakes, while keeping you focused on the positive.
   
10. Count your blessings.
    Every day, take time to record blessings in your life! Then go back and re-read your list frequently.

11. Get creative.
    Create something. Write short stories, pull out those paints, tackle that novel. Now is the time to do it!

Isolation does not have to be negative. If we take some of these intentional steps, we might just come out of the pandemic stronger than ever.