Sympathies For the Housebound
Mar. 14th, 2020 09:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alias_sqbrA bunch of you are dealing with being stuck in your houses, which is something I have a lot of experience with, if not in quite the same way. So I thought I might as well give what advice I have to give.
First off: it sucks! My sympathies! I got used to it but you'll all hopefully be free again soonish anyway.
I'm working from the experience of a chronic but stable illness, while you're all mostly healthy or (potentially) dealing with a temporary but very serious illness. Also I'm as new to the whole avoiding contagion/transmission thing as everyone else. But for what it's worth....
Fresh air and sunshine are great, even if it's just sitting in the garden. Or just sitting by a window for the view, or leaving the screen door open for the breeze.
Remember to move around regularly. Keep up with however much exercise is healthy for your body, even if that's just stretching your arms every now and then.
Variety is important, even if it's just changing up what spices you use or sitting with your laptop in a different room.
Online community is great, but it can be easy to be a passive consumer or feel like you're shouting into the void. Try to connect with individual people, both in group conversations and one-on-one. Keep in touch with those important to you.
If you live with someone else, be prepared for the social dynamics to get a little weird if you're adjusting to being around each other more. If you're working from home, set boundaries around when it is and isn't ok to come in and chat. Don't confuse 'being in the same house' with actively spending time together, and consider making time for the latter.
Computer games can make you feel like you're exploring new worlds, and are a good way to distract from anxiety, physical unpleasantness, and boredom. Here's my recs.
When your brain has had enough of staring at a computer screen, try physical things like sketching, craft, or even housework.
I may think of other stuff but that'll do for now. Good luck everyone.
First off: it sucks! My sympathies! I got used to it but you'll all hopefully be free again soonish anyway.
I'm working from the experience of a chronic but stable illness, while you're all mostly healthy or (potentially) dealing with a temporary but very serious illness. Also I'm as new to the whole avoiding contagion/transmission thing as everyone else. But for what it's worth....
Fresh air and sunshine are great, even if it's just sitting in the garden. Or just sitting by a window for the view, or leaving the screen door open for the breeze.
Remember to move around regularly. Keep up with however much exercise is healthy for your body, even if that's just stretching your arms every now and then.
Variety is important, even if it's just changing up what spices you use or sitting with your laptop in a different room.
Online community is great, but it can be easy to be a passive consumer or feel like you're shouting into the void. Try to connect with individual people, both in group conversations and one-on-one. Keep in touch with those important to you.
If you live with someone else, be prepared for the social dynamics to get a little weird if you're adjusting to being around each other more. If you're working from home, set boundaries around when it is and isn't ok to come in and chat. Don't confuse 'being in the same house' with actively spending time together, and consider making time for the latter.
Computer games can make you feel like you're exploring new worlds, and are a good way to distract from anxiety, physical unpleasantness, and boredom. Here's my recs.
When your brain has had enough of staring at a computer screen, try physical things like sketching, craft, or even housework.
I may think of other stuff but that'll do for now. Good luck everyone.
