Few of us had heard the phrase “social distancing” at the beginning of the year. But now, maintaining safe, hygienic spaces that help limit the spread of the coronavirus is just a part of our lives.
Here are five ideas on how to make social distancing a little less isolating.
1 – Set a schedule
We advise all our newly retired clients to set a schedule that will give retirement a little bit of structure. Doing so keeps new retirees active and engaged as they explore new ways to fill time without their 9 to 5s.
It also helps keep retired spouses from driving each other crazy!
Whether you’re retired or not, you’re going to need to rethink how you spend your days for the foreseeable future, especially if you’re working from home or still have kids in the house who need help with schooling.
If you’re struggling to work out a schedule, we can walk you through some of our Retirement Coaching exercises to help you and your family see and plan a productive week.
2 – Get outside!
So far, the government hasn’t put restrictions on getting some fresh air. Sitting in the backyard, firing up the barbeque (find somewhere sheltered!), or throwing a ball around can help you and any family you’re isolated with getting the blood pumping and feel a little more normal.
You can walk, jog, or bike through your neighbourhood. Just remember to keep a six-foot/2 metre buffer between you and others and avoid touching surfaces like fences and gates.
Another idea: driveway or garden parties! Some people are setting up chairs in their driveways, or across the fence from each other to say hi – or shout hi – to neighbours without getting within six feet of each other. Funny enough, our neighbours weren’t so keen to share our boot camp workout despite the music disguising most of the noises of my effort!
Remember, the coronavirus situation is different country to country and even UK to the Isle of Man. Check with the IOM Government Website for the latest social distancing guidelines.
3 – Enjoy some facetime on FaceTime
So far, the government hasn’t put restrictions on getting some fresh air. Sitting in the backyard, firing up the barbeque (find somewhere sheltered!), or throwing a ball around can help you and any family you’re isolated with getting the blood pumping and feel a little more normal.
You can walk, jog, or bike through your neighbourhood. Just remember to keep a six-foot/2 metre buffer between you and others and avoid touching surfaces like fences and gates.
Another idea: driveway or garden parties! Some people are setting up chairs in their driveways, or across the fence from each other to say hi – or shout hi – to neighbours without getting within six feet of each other. Funny enough, our neighbours weren’t so keen to share our boot camp workout despite the music disguising most of the noises of my effort!
Remember, the coronavirus situation is different country to country and even UK to the Isle of Man. Check with the IOM Government Website for the latest social distancing guidelines.
4 – Learn from the best
So far, the government hasn’t put restrictions on getting some fresh air. Sitting in the backyard, firing up the barbeque (find somewhere sheltered!), or throwing a ball around can help you and any family you’re isolated with getting the blood pumping and feel a little more normal.
You can walk, jog, or bike through your neighbourhood. Just remember to keep a six-foot/2 metre buffer between you and others and avoid touching surfaces like fences and gates.
Another idea: driveway or garden parties! Some people are setting up chairs in their driveways, or across the fence from each other to say hi – or shout hi – to neighbours without getting within six feet of each other. Funny enough, our neighbours weren’t so keen to share our boot camp workout despite the music disguising most of the noises of my effort!
Remember, the coronavirus situation is different country to country and even UK to the Isle of Man. Check with the IOM Government Website for the latest social distancing guidelines.
5 – Perform random acts of kindness
There’s power in putting goodwill out into the world. And right now, we could all use some!
In your own home, something as simple as cooking a nice meal for your stressed-out spouse or performing a chore that’s not usually on your to-do list could go a long way toward keeping things upbeat. You might even decide to tackle a cleaning, painting, or reorganizing project together that will freshen up your home.
As for the loved ones you aren’t isolated with, think of little ways to show you care. Commit to those weekly “fam jam” calls. Mail a takeout pie from your local bakery. There are some great community Facebook groups providing lists of those who deliver. Send a greeting card or handwritten letter. Check-in on your neighbours, especially the elderly or infirmed, and see if there’s anything you can do to help without breaching safe social distancing.
Your community could benefit from some kindness, as well. Small businesses, restaurants, and artists are really hurting right now. Buying gift cards, merchandise, and takeout/delivered meals can help these businesses stay operational and keep a few more people working. If you’re a Sunday newspaper reader, consider subscribing daily to support the folks who are getting you vital information. That singer you saw in your local Centenary Centre can’t perform live right now, but she probably has an album you can buy online.
For our part, we plan to keep our usual channels of communication wide open.
We’ll stay in touch with emails, blog posts, and podcasts to share information that we hope helps you cope with social distancing and the other challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
And if there are any questions you need answering, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
