How to Survive COVID Quarantine

If you have had to do the dreaded mandatory isolation period, it is for one of three reasons: you have COVID, are a close contact or need to do it for travel purposes. So, with this, there are different ways to survive it.

Firstly, if you are sick with COVID, as I am writing this, the only way to get through it is to rest and be grateful. For me, the first 5-6 days have been a blur and have all merged into one. Needing to sleep all the time, hardly moving and taking so much medication, was what gave the days any kind of structure. Having a shower or opening the blinds was the highlight of my days, but just as I would feel I was on the mend, the next day I would wake up with another symptom. It really is seeming like it is never going to end, but I do feel better than this time last week so let’s stick to the positives.

My point, however, is that I am so grateful. Grateful for having a house where I could spend these 10 days alone and keeping everyone else safe. Grateful for the time to sleep all day (which is impossible in real life with a 3-year old). Grateful for the best husband ever who has looked after an entertained our son while in the house for this whole time. He has cooked healthy food for us, delivered what I needed to the door and sent me videos of the two of them playing. And finally, grateful that I had the vaccine and that this could have been so much worse!

If you are close contact, you will be feeling isolated and probably quite lonely (as well as exhausted if you have young children as you will be trying to amuse them all day for 10 days). Holding the fort for that time is tiring with no structure or routine to the day, as well as having to look after and worry about the sick one in the family (if the close contact is from your household). You guys are the heroes!

If you are isolating alone, it is possible you could feel very lonely and in need of company. I know a lot of people struggle to be forced to be alone and the house can be a safe place but can also be daunting if you do not enjoy your own company or your thoughts can be dangerous to your mental health. This is when I urge you to stay in touch with people; call people, zoom people, text people, be in touch on social media. Give yourself the time to connect with other people so you do not feel so alone and the time will pass quicker. If you have hobbies, you can spend time doing them and you can also do some home exercise if you feel up to it or enjoy that kind of work out.

For the final group of people who are repatriating, expatriating again or travelling to see family, it is likely there will be some sort of quarantine period, whether in a house, a hotel or a facility. For you, I would say to remember, you are so close now to your end goal that you can survive 10 more days. Whether it means you will be starting a new job in an exciting new place, returning home to start a new life or visiting family after not seeing them for 2 years – you are almost there!

I imagine it cannot be easy in a small hotel room (and even worse if you have kids to consider as they would go stir crazy), but the end goal will be worth it and it is one of those ‘means to an end’ things, that you have no control over. Try keep a routine if you can. Try move your body, try keep your spirits up and watch programmes or learn things you have not had time to do before.

We always complain we have no time, and then when we get time, we complain that it is boring or lonely. Maybe it is a sign to sit back for once, relax, enjoy the time we have, even if it is to sleep or do nothing and be grateful that ourselves and our families are safe. These last 18 months have brought so much sadness and heartache to so many families around the world and one way to forever remain in the positive corner is to remind ourselves how grateful we are for our health and that of others, because in the grand scheme of things, this is the only important thing.