The news and social media are full of posts and information on the coronavirus – and many of them are sharing the fun activities we can do at home with our loved ones and children during this time. But what if you live alone? How can one manage for two weeks (or even more) without physically interacting with others in a time like this? How do you manage to not go completely insane?

Before we get into that, quick update on the situation. As you know we live across Hungary and California – in Hungary we are at the point where schools, most offices, and all non-essential stores are closed. This includes movie theaters, baths, and clothing stores. The grocery stores are open until 3pm. Those of us that can, are working from home. People are not going on the street. We have not been asked to quarantine ourselves, but it is just a matter of time before we follow the footsteps of Germany and we are asked to not leave the house. For California, the situation is similar, and although stores and gyms are beginning to close, some people still go out. We will see how that holds up in these times.

Now, as far as being alone – it sucks. I’m a natural extrovert, and I hate being alone for long periods of time, so for me this is torture. I have been at home since Wednesday (at this point over a week), and to be honest – it hasn’t been easy. Living alone means I have no one to hug, play games with, look at, or talk to in person. Sure, I FaceTime and chat with friends – but it just isn’t the same. Top that off with having had a recent (within the last 2 months) breakup, and you take a girls’ anxiety level to a whole other level.

My first three days at home were pretty bad – my anxiety went through the roof - I was panicking about how I would occupy myself for the coming weeks, and how I could manage to turn my brain off and not overthink everything that is going on in my life. After day three of almost a few anxiety attacks (deep breathing and putting your head in between your legs really helps), I finally had a breakthrough. I thought calmly about how I could use this time productively and tried to see the positive of the situation.

So with that, I have rounded up 5 tips on what is helping me get through the coronavirus isolation while living alone:

1.       Listen to music & podcasts

The part I hate most about being alone is the quiet. So when there isn’t something on TV for me to watch, I always have either music or a podcast on – and although it isn’t the same, podcasts feel like you have people around you. If you find one with an interesting topic or one that makes you think – it can really distract you for that amount of time. Music should be upbeat and happy – it should make you want to dance! Think of having a dance party in your house – you’re alone anyways so no one can see you and you can break it down however you like.

2.      Cook your own food

Whether you like to cook or not – this is the time to do it. Not only is it healthier for you (and let’s face it, we need all the vitamins we can get) but it’s also more hygienic. I love to cook, and I am using this time to cook food I normally wouldn’t have the time for.

For some inspiration, here are some of our favorite recipes!

Sweet potato cream soup recipe

Chocolate chip banana muffins

Homemade gnocchi with pesto

Spinach ricotta quiche

Avocado egg salad

3.       Watch Netflix with subtitles

Okay, so this is going to sound weird, but watching a foreign show or movie and having to read subtitles really helps control anxiety and a wondering mind. I’m the type of Netflix watcher that likes to be on my phone at the same time for extra stimulation – but that can cause me to overthink and spiral. However, if you watch a show with subtitles you can’t look at your phone or get distracted because you have to really pay attention and read the subtitles. It is seriously genius. Right now on Netflix I am loving “Baby” and “Elite” – very raunchy and the perfect guilty pleasure foreign shows.

4.      Organize your chores  

This is probably the most obvious thing to do – but using this time to clean and organize is a great way to spend your time. Make a list of all the things you want to organize/clean in the house, and pick one a day to work on. This way you will feel organized, but not overwhelmed, and it will feel extremely satisfying to check each point off your list! After all, it is March, which means spring is upon us, and a good clean is always a great way to kick off a new season! I Marie Kondo-d the s@!t out of my drawers :D

5.       Hustle

This is the time to focus on your side hustle. With all the extra time we have to be cooped up in the house – this is the perfect time to get on your laptop and get done what needs to be done. Whether that’s writing blog posts, preparing social media content, updating your website, or stocking up your online store – schedule a couple hours every day to focus on your business. And in a few weeks when we are ready to go outside again, you will reap the benefits! Don’t have a side hustle yet? Check out our easy-to-use worksheet and guide on finding a career that you love - find our blog post here.

Being isolated in the house – especially alone – can cause a lot of fear, anxiety, and loneliness for some of us. You just have to remember to be kind to yourself, and give yourself time to adjust to the situation emotionally and find the things that make you happy. Hopefully some of the above ideas gave you a good starting point!

For 1-1 coaching sessions via Skype on any of the above topics, or anything else, contact us here or at doubletake.lifestyle@yahoo.com.